Issue - meetings

The Audit Findings Report summarised the Council’s External Auditors findings from the 2012/13 audit and covered two elements: the audit of the Council’s financial statements, and an assessment of the Council’s arrangements to achieve value for money in the use of resources.  The report identified the key issues they had considered prior to issuing their opinion on the Council’s financial statements and arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources.

Judith Tench and Steven Nixon (Grant Thornton) were in attendance and spoke to the report, highlighting key issues.

The Auditor’s were highly complementary about the Council’s response to the majority of issues raised by the report.

A revised Audit Opinion (Appendix 2) was circulated at the meeting as the Auditors had reassessed the Value for Money conclusion, which had resulted in the removal of the paragraph:

“As a result of the issues identified during our work, the Council was unable to demonstrate that it was prioritising resources within budgets – in a planned way – and achieving sustainable cost reductions alongside greater efficiencies and improved productivity,”

RESOLVED:  That

1          the Audit Findings Report for 2012/13 be received and noted; and

2          approval be given for the letter of representation to be signed by the Interim Chief Operating Officer.