AUDIT, GOVERNANCE AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Monday 23rd November 2015

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Audit Committee Update – November 2015

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit and Governance Committee

Lead Head of Service

Head of Finance and Resources

Lead Officer

Paul Riley

Report Author

Janette Gill

Is this a key Decision

No

Classification

Public

Wards affected

N/A

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   It is recommended that the Audit and Governance Committee notes the External Auditor’s update report attached at Appendix A

Issues for Consideration:

2.   To consider the report of the External Auditor on the proposed Audit Programme for 2015/16. Representatives from Grant Thornton UK LLP will be present at the meeting to present their report and answer any questions.

 

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:

·         Securing a successful economy for Maidstone Borough Council – delivery of Value for Money services

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date : 23 November 2015

Audit and Governance Committee

 

Maidstone Borough Council

 



Audit Committee Update – November 2015

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1     This report is to communicate to the Audit and Governance Committee a report on the progress in delivering the responsibilities of the Authority’s External Auditors.

 

1.2     The report also includes emerging issues and developments relevant to the Authority along with any questions that may arise as a result of those emerging issues. A copy of the Audit Committee Update Report is attached at Appendix A.

 

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     The Audit Committee Update Report will provide a report on the progress of the work of the External Auditor’s Grant Thornton UK LLP, in discharging their responsibilities as outlined in the above at Paragraph 1.

 

 

3.        REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1     External Audit Services are provided by Grant Thornton UK LLP who successfully tendered for the five year contract from 2012/13 following the abolition of the Audit Commission’s audit practice.

3.2     In addition to updating the Audit and Governance on a range of emerging issues, this report provides an overview of the planned programme of work by the Auditors for 2015/16.

3.3     Members have previously indicated that they found this type of report to be useful.

3.4     Representatives of Grant Thornton UK LLP will be at the meeting to present the report and answer any questions.

 

Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

3.5     In accordance with the respective responsibilities of both the External Auditor and the Audit and Governance Committee, a progress report update of this nature is judged to be appropriate for consideration. To not consider the report could weaken the Audit and Governance Committee’s capacity to discharge its responsibilities in relation to External Audit.

 

 

 

 

4.       IMPLICATIONS

 

The implications to consider as a result of this report are as follows:

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Objectives

The report is focused on ensuring that the Auditor’s Opinion on the 2015/16 Financial Statements is issued by the Statutory deadline of the 30th September 2016.

Head of  Finance & Resources

Risk Management

This report supports the Committee in the delivery of its Governance responsibilities. It also helps to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with the statutory timetable for production and audit of the annual accounts through timely communication of any potential issues.

Chief Accountant

Financial

The financial implications arising from the proposed work will be contained in the Audit Plan referred to in the Report at Appendix A

Head of Finance & Resources

 

5.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix A: Audit Committee Update November 2015

 

 

6.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

There are no background papers for this report.