Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Simon Carter.

It was noted that Councillor Chris Vince was running late but would be attending the meeting.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

Councillor Jodi Dunne raised a pecuniary interest as a Non-Executive Director of HTS (Housing and Regeneration).

Councillors Eddie Johnson and Stacy Seales raised pecuniary interests as Non-Executive Directors of HTS Group Ltd and HTS (Property and Environment).

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

None.

None.

None.

The Committee received its current work plan.

Simon Freeman, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, confirmed that there would be a financial training session for committee members prior to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 Statement of Accounts coming to Committee.

Simon Freeman also advised the Committee that work on the 2019/20 accounts would re-start on 7 November 2022, therefore, the accounts may be able to come to Committee before the end of the financial year.

RESOLVED that the work plan is noted.

The Committee received the Interim Audit Completion report for 2018/19 prepared by the Council’s appointed auditor BDO LLP.

Councillor Chris Vince arrived during the discussion on this item.

The Committee requested that BDO provide an estimate of the total fees payable for work on the 2018/19 audit. Lisa Blake, BDO, agreed to continue discussions with the Director of Finance in relation to the audit fees for 2018/19 audit work and that the outcome of these discussions would be provided to the Chair of the Committee

Councillor Colleen Morrison noted that many abbreviations had been used in the BDO report and not all of them had been fully explained. Councillor Morrison requested that, in future, all reports were written in plain English. 

RESOLVED that the Committee:

A     Reviewed the Interim Audit Completion Report alongside the approval of the

Statement of Accounts reported to this meeting.

B     Noted the Value for Money assessment of the Council’s use of resources as

contained within the attached report from the Council’s appointed Auditor.

The Committee received the Audited Annual Accounts for 2018/19 and notwithstanding the agreement reached having considered the report requested that should there be any significant changes required as a result of the national accounting matter relating to Infrastructure Assets then revised accounts will be presented to the Committee for final approval.

RESOLVED that:

A     Upon consideration of the Auditor’s Results Report earlier in the agenda, the

Committee approved the latest 2018/19 Statement of Accounts presented as

Appendix 1 to this report.

Any references arising from meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be circulated separately.

None.

To deal with any matters of an urgent nature.

None.