Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to a report which presented the External Audit Progress Report, prepared by the External Auditor, Mazars LLP and attached as Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

The External Audit Progress Report provided the Committee with an update on the progress made by Mazars LLP in delivering their responsibilities as the Council’s External Auditors.  It was noted that the audit of the Council’s 2019/20 financial statements and value for money conclusion had been completed in November 2020, that the required audit work on the Council’s Whole of Government Accounts submission was being undertaken, and that audit planning for the 2020/21 audit would commence in January/February 2021.  The National Audit Office had updated their Code of Audit Practice applying from 2020/21 and changed the work that auditors will be required to do and report on in respect of Councils’ arrangements to deliver value for money in their use of resources.  The report also highlighted a number of recent publications relevant to the work of the Committee, with particular attention being drawn to the response of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to the recommendations of the Redmond review of the effectiveness of external audit and transparency of financial reporting in local authorities.

RESOLVED that the External Audit Progress Report be noted.