Issue - meetings

Grant Thornton, as the Council’s appointed External Auditors, have produced a report (Appendix A) which provides an update to Audit & Governance Committee on their progress to date in delivering their responsibilities.

The report includes an update on their 2021/22 audit work. Key points of note are:

·     Financial Statements Audit 2021/22 – Grant Thornton are aiming to present a draft Audit Findings Report for 2021/22 to the November meeting of the Audit & Governance Committee and issue their opinion by the end of November 2023.

·     Value for Money 2021/22 & 2022/23 – Regular meetings have been set up with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Cabinet Portfolio holder responsible for finance to discuss progress against the recommendations made in their Auditor’s Annual Reports for 2021/22 and 2022/23, as well as other recent external reports and emerging issues.

The report also includes a summary of emerging national issues and developments that may be relevant to the Council.

The External Auditors, Grant Thornton, presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The report provided an update for the Committee on their progress to date in delivering their responsibilities and included an update on their 2021/22 audit work.

It was reported that, in regard to Financial Statements Audit 2021/22, the aim was to present a draft Audit Findings Report for 2021/22 to the November meeting of the Committee and issue their opinion by the end of November 2023. Good progress was reported although Grant Thornton advised Members that they had received an indication during the morning of the meeting that the required Letter of Assurance relating to the Dorset Pension Fund may not now be received from the Pension Fund Auditors until just before Christmas. This could lead to a delay in the timetable although Grant Thornton would do everything that they could in advance to be in a position to complete the audit as soon as the Letter was received.

The nature of the delay was set out and explained and these were matters that were outside the control of the Council’s Auditors and the Committee was of the view there these matters should be addressed at a national as well as a local level. There were also specific comments about the Dedicated Schools budget and the previous Chair of the Committee informed the Committee that correspondence between him and the Chief Executive would be provided to Grant Thornton.

Grant Thornton also provided an update on the Value for Money 2021/22 and 2022/23 audits and reported that regular meetings had been set up with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Cabinet Portfolio holder responsible for finance to discuss progress against the recommendations made in their Auditor’s Annual Reports for 2021/22 and 2022/23, as well as other recent external reports and emerging issues.

The report also included a summary of emerging national issues and developments that may be relevant to the Council.

RESOLVED that Audit and Governance Committee notes the External Auditor’s progress to date in delivering their responsibilities and the sector update provided.

Voting: Unanimous