Agenda and draft minutes

Audit Scrutiny Committee - Friday, 22nd March, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4XX. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Minutes:

It was proposed by Cllr Morgan and seconded by Cllr Radford that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record and signed by the chair.

 

Resolved

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

2.

Declarations of Interest.

Minutes:

None

 

3.

Public Questions (If any)

Minutes:

None

4.

Members Questions (if any)

Members of the Council may ask questions of the Chairman subject to procedural rules.

 

The deadline for questions is no later than three clear working days before the meeting.

 

Minutes:

None

5.

Grant Thornton

5a

2020-21 Audit Findings Report pdf icon PDF 6 MB

Minutes:

The External Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee. The Committee were informed on the asset valuations as well as issuing  a disclaimer over problems with verification of these figures, the effect of sickness absence, and that the disclaimer wasn’t discussed earlier due to wider national issues.

 

Resolved

 

That the report be noted

5b

2020-21 Letter of Representation pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Minutes:

The External Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee.

 

Resolved

 

That the report be noted

6.

2021-22 and 2022-23 joint Auditors Annual Report pdf icon PDF 9 MB

Minutes:

The External Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee.

 

The Committee were informed that the Audit covered financial sustainability, governance, and value for money. No statutory recommendations were required, there were 2 governance recommendations in relation to financial statements, the capacity in finance, and a new finance system as part of digital transformation were also discussed. The Committee noted that the second recommendation related to members behaviour.  

 

It was proposed by Cllr Morgan and seconded by Cllr Radford that the Committee recommend the Joint Auditors Annual Report to Full Council for approval.

 

Resolved

 

That the Committee recommend the Joint Auditors Annual Report to Full Council for approval.

7.

2021-22 and 2022-23 Backstop letter pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Minutes:

The External Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee. It was noted that the audit team had been working hard to deal with the workload.

 

Resolved

 

That the report be noted

8.

2023-24 External audit plan pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Minutes:

The External Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee. He informed the committee about the short time frame for the work, the increase in fees in the previous year, and the role of PSAA in ensuring timely delivery.

 

Resolved

 

That the Committee note the report.

8a

Audit Opinion

9.

Financial Waivers pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Minutes:

The Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee. She explained the process for financial waivers where urgent action was required such as the collapsed wall.

 

Resolved

 

That the report be noted.

 

 

10.

Final Accounts 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by Cllr Morgan and seconded by Cllr Radford that the Committee recommend the updated statement of accounts 2020/21 and updated Annual Governance Statement for approval to Council.

 

Resolved

 

That the Committee recommend the updated statement of accounts 2020/21 and updated Annual Governance Statement to Full Council for approval.

11.

Notices of Motion - Webcasting pdf icon PDF 203 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered that a decision on the motion did not fall into their terms of reference and would be more appropriately decided elsewhere. It was suggested that decision could be deferred until after the current contract is complete.

 

It was proposed by Cllr Purser and seconded by Cllr Radford that the motion report be sent to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

12.

Internal Audit Progress Report pdf icon PDF 283 KB

Minutes:

The Audit Manager introduced the item to the Committee.

 

The Committee noted the audit progress of various projects. All but one project received an audit opinion of good. One audit rated excellent had just been out of time for inclusion in this report. The Committee considered that it would be useful for the Audit Scrutiny Committee to receive an update on progress with recommendations from the audit of Housing Health and Safety, from the responsible officer.

 

 

Resolved

 

That the report be noted.