Issue - meetings

This report presents the external auditor’s Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2018 and the latest Progress Report.  In accordance with Audit Regulations, both items must be received by this Committee.

The Committee:

(1)          Received the Annual Audit Letter attached as Annex 1 to the report;

(2)          Received the External Audit Progress Report attached as Annex 2 to the report.

The Committee received a report that presented the external auditor’s Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2018 and the latest progress report. It was highlighted that, in accordance with Audit Regulations, both items had to be received by this Committee.

Mr. Ade Oyerinde, Senior Manager, Grant Thornton, was in attendance to present the Audit Letter and Progress Report and to answer any questions from Members of the Committee.

Mr Oyerinde highlighted that as a result of a new requirement on Grant Thornton to audit group accounts in 2017/18, the final fee for the main audit was likely to be £3,000 higher at £47,708. This was subject to approval by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd.

Mr. Oyerinde further reported that the certification work in relation to the 2017/18 Housing Benefit Grant had now been completed. The Council would be receiving an unqualified opinion and the fee for this work remained unchanged at £8,976.

In response to a query regarding the key value for money risk identified in relation to the establishment of EEPIC, it was confirmed that the auditors had not identified any issues at the present time in the current circumstances.

Accordingly, the Committee:

(1)          Received the Annual Audit Letter attached as Annex 1 to the report;

(2)          Received the External Audit Progress Report attached as Annex 2 to the report.