Issue - meetings

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services.

Mr Surridge from Mazars the Council’s External Auditors presented the Council’s audit arrangements for the financial year 2022/23 and reported there were no significant weaknesses identified and no recommendations arising. The Group were asked to note the report was positive in context of the troubles across the sector in relation to finance and audit. Mr Surridge advised there are no major concerns and no actions are required by the Council.

Members asked a specific question relating to the Auditors observation and recommendation that the Council consider having an ‘Audit Committee’ instead of Governance Scrutiny Group and questioned the proposals from the Redmond Review for independent members to ensure the membership of an audit committee has adequate skills and experience to be able to challenge the complexities of local government finance and asked if it was something the Council should be considering for future meetings. The Director - Finance and Corporate Services explained that the Governance Scrutiny Group is effectively the Council’s Audit Committee and with regards to the Redmond Review it was noted that other local authorities had tried but not successfully to recruit an independent member.

It was RESOLVED that the Governance Scrutiny Group note the receipt of the Annual Audit Letter.