Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Ames, A. Alexander, Kirkham, T. Larkin, Rehman and Williams.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Corporate Governance for the agreement to the appointment of the Council’s external auditors from the financial year 2018/19 which was part of a joint procurement exercise being overseen by the Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) to undertake the external audit of the Statement of Financial Accounts and to audit the Housing Benefit Subsidy Claim. 

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 stated that a “relevant authority must appoint a local auditor to audit its accounts for a financial year not later than 31 December in the preceding financial year.  The current external audit contracts were organised by the Audit Commission prior to its close and the option under this arrangement to extend for a further financial year 2017/18 was agreed by its successor body, PSAA, following a determination by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.  This was agreed by full Council on 14 December 2016.  The PSAA also acted as an Agent for the Department for Work and Pensions in appointing an external auditor to audit the Housing Benefit Subsidy Grant.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 – Procurement by PSAA

Option 2 – Regional Procurement at a Greater Manchester Level

Option 3 – Procurement Overseen by Oldham Council

If the Council wished PSAA to assist in the appointment of the Council’s external auditor for the financial years from 2018/19, PSAA would need to be formally advised by the Council by 9^th March 2017 which was the deadline imposed by the PSAA. 

RESOLVED that the procurement of the Council external auditors by PSAA from 2018/19 be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which outlined the requirement that each constituent Council appoint an officer of the Council to be the Local Returning Officer for the election of a Combined Authority Mayor.

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive, Carolyn Wilkins, be appointed as the Returning Officer for the Council at the Combined Authority Mayoral elections.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services which detailed the results of the recent Failsworth East By-Election and the subsequent review of the composition of political groups.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The result of the By-Election be noted.

2.       The composition of the political groups as outlined in the report be noted.