Issue - meetings

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

Ms Norman from Forvis Mazars, the council’s external auditors presented the External Audit Annual Plan for 2024/25, which summarised the audit activity with regard to the final accounts process and their approach to value for money work.

Ms Norman referred to the audit scope, approach and timeline and advised the Group that Rushcliffe is not experiencing the problems other local authorities are facing with a back log of audits. the Group noted that significant work had been completed from the annual audit plan and the final review of financial statements and value for money report is also expected to be completed and signed off by autumn 2025.

Ms Norman highlighted the implementation of IFRS 16 a risk assessment around lease transactions and assesses the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases and the Council is required to re-classify its lease arrangements in line with these new standards for the first time in its 2024/25 accounts.

The Head of Finance informed the Group that the Council’s draft Statement of Accounts had been published on 11 June 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Governance Scrutiny Group accepted the 2024/25 External Audit Annual Plan.