Issue - meetings

This report presents the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts and Grant Thornton’s Audit Findings report following the external audit.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Approve the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021;

(2)      Agree the Annual Governance Statement included within the Statement of Accounts;

(3)      Receive the Audit Findings for 2020/21;

(4)      Agree the management action in response to the audit recommendations detailed at Appendix A of the Audit Findings report;

(5)      Agree that the Chair or Vice Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee and the Chief Finance Officer sign the Letter of Representation on behalf of the Council;

(6)      Consider and approve the management responses to Grant Thornton’s enquiries, as set out in Appendix 4.

(7)      Delegate any further amendments to the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chair or Vice Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee.

The Committee report presenting the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts and Grant Thornton’s Audit Findings report following the external audit.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Chief Accountant. The Committee was also addressed by a representative of the Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton.

The following matter was raised by the Committee:

a)             Audit queries: Members raised a number of queries on the Council’s accounts. The Auditor provided the Committee with the necessary assurance that the accounts present a true and fair view. The Auditor highlighted that the only audit item outstanding was receipt of assurance from a separate audit of Surrey Pension Fund, which is expected to be received by Monday 27 September.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved unanimously to:

(1)      Approve the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021;

(2)      Agree the Annual Governance Statement included within the Statement of Accounts;

(3)      Receive the Audit Findings for 2020/21;

(4)      Agree the management action in response to the audit recommendations detailed at Appendix A of the Audit Findings report;

(5)      Agree that the Chair or Vice Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee and the Chief Finance Officer sign the Letter of Representation on behalf of the Council;

(6)      Consider and approve the management responses to Grant Thornton’s enquiries, as set out in Appendix 4.

(7)      Delegate any further amendments to the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chair or Vice Chair of Strategy and Resources Committee.