Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record.

Report to follow.

The External Auditor presented the report. It included the key findings and the impact of Covid-19. Due to the ongoing pandemic, some aspects of the audit had not yet been completed.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The report was presented to the Committee by the Chief Financial Officer. He outlined that there were two options that could be used – a national scheme or the appointment of an auditor using the procurement process.

It was proposed by Councillor Rollason and seconded by Councillor Thorne that the Committee recommends that Full Council accepts the invitation to opt in to the national scheme for auditor appointments starting from April 2023.

Resolved

That the Committee recommends that Full Council accepts the invitation to opt in to the national scheme for auditor appointments starting from April 2023.

The report was presented to the committee by the Chief Financial Officer. This included an update on the statement of accounts and a letter of representation from Grant Thornton.

Resolved

That the Audit Scrutiny Committee recommend the report to Full Council.

The report was presented to the Committee by the Audit Manager. She declared an interest in the item as one of the waivers related to Audit. Several of the waivers were highlighted including coastal monitoring software, decoy play area, and the audit delivery purchase.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The Audit Manager introduced the report. She explained the powers held by the council to the committee. They had not been used since pre-2014 and were unlikely to be used.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The report was introduced to the Committee by the Procurement Officer. She informed the committee about changes to the financial threshold such as the goods and services threshold increase to £100,000. Virtual meetings has been held with goods suppliers, of which there were currently around 5000.

In response to questions from members, the Procurement Officer explained that Chris West, who had given feedback for this report, had been hired by finance to audit the financial thresholds. It was also explained that goods and services had been split in order to make it easier for officers to carry out work without a long and overly formal process.

Resolved

That the report be noted.