Issue - meetings

Michelle Hopton of Deloitte presented an update on the current status of the external audit for 2020/21

It was acknowledged that the 2020 audit was still ongoing and it was the intention to have this signed off as soon as possible.  Members had been sent the notes of a Wash-Up meeting that had been held between Deloitte and the Finance Team to address the issues identified during the 2019/20 audit process.  The current plan had not changed since it was last presented to the Committee in March 2021. The Grant Thornton report was mentioned as a significant change since the last committee meeting.  This report would be considered when completed to see if it impacts the value for money opinion. 

It was noted that the audit for 2021 would be starting on 12 July 2021.  A detailed plan for the audit had been shared with the Finance team.  The Council and Deloitte were working together to achieve the September signing deadline.  In response to a question concerning whether the previous issue of a lack of man power and resources allocated to the audit would be resolved for current audit, Ms Hopton confirmed that Deloitte had a fully resourced team and plan with built in contingencies should any issues arise.  The Chief Finance Officer stated that there were still capacity constraints within the Council which would not be resolved until the start of the transformation phase of the joint working arrangements with Surrey County Council.  It was noted that two additional team members would be drafted in from County to cover the Summer holiday period.

When asked when the 2021 audit would be completed Ms Hopton stated that the national deadline for completion is the end of September and a meeting of the Committee had been arranged to receive the external audit report.  The Chief Finance Officer also stated that Deloitte intended to have the 2019/20 accounts signed off by 31 July 2021. It was noted that the Grant Thornton report would not impact the signing off of the 2019/20 accounts.

The Committee asked for clarification as to which Officers and/or Councillors had the power to sign off accounts.  It was thought that the current Chair of the Committee could sign the accounts but clarification would be sought in advance of the sign off at the end of July.

R E S O L V E D – that the report be noted.