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AUDIT, GOVERNANCE AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

18 March 2019

 

Housing Benefit Grant Claim

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

Mark Green, Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Author

Sheila Coburn, Head of Revenues and Benefits

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

The Committee considered the findings of the work undertaken by Grant Thornton to certify the housing benefit subsidy claim that the Council submitted for 2017/18 at its meeting on 14 January 2019.  This report notes Grant Thornton’s Certification Letter, which summarises their findings as reported to the Committee at its last meeting.

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

That the Housing Benefit Certification letter attached at Appendix A be noted.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

18 March 2019



Housing Benefit Grant Claim

 

 

1.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1     Grant Thornton undertook work to certify the Housing Benefit grant claim for 2017/18.  Their findings were reported at the committee’s meeting on 14 January 2019.

 

1.2     Grant Thornton’s certification letter is now attached at Appendix A.

 

 

2.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

2.1     This report is provided for information only.

 

 

 

3.       RISK

3.1     This report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.

 

 

 

4.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

4.1    No consultation has been undertaken in relation to this matter.

 

 

 

5.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

5.1    Next steps are outlined within Appendix A.

 

 

 

6.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

Audit of the Council’s Housing Benefit grant claim is part of the framework of financial controls that allows the Council to confidently progress its priorities.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Risk Management

See section 3.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Financial

The errors outlined in the Grant Thornton certification letter have no impact on the net value of the Council’s claim and the level of error identified does not indicate any significant underlying control weaknesses.  The additional audit fees incurred can be managed within existing budgets.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Staffing

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Legal

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Privacy and Data Protection

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Equalities

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Public Health

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Crime and Disorder

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Procurement

None identified.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement

 

 

 

 

7.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following document is to be published with this report and forms part of the report:

·         Appendix A: Grant Thornton Certification Letter

 

 

 

8.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None.