Issue - meetings

The committee is requested to consider and note this report.

The committee considered a report by EY (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr Young Audit Manager EY shared the timetable of the proposed audit of the 2015-16 financial statements and advised that the 2016-17 audit plan would be brought to the committee at their next meeting in March 2016, along with the certification report.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

An oral report on progress against the Audit Plan 2015/16 will be provided by Ernst & Young LLP.

Mr King provided an oral update of progress on the 2015/16 Audit Plan advising that planning would begin in the next few weeks. One area of work was certifying the Council’s claims and return. The essential housing benefits and council tax benefit claims were certified on 17 November, and a qualification letter sent to the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP). A response was now awaited from the DWP and the findings would be reported to the next meeting.

Ernst & Young LLP’s audit framework agreement with the Council comes to an end in 2016/17. The Department of Communities & Local Government (DCLG) had announced that contracts would be extended for one year to 2017/18 at which point authorities would be required to appoint their own auditors which may be procured individually or collectively. There was talk of a sector body being set up.

RESOLVED

That the oral report on the 2015/16 Audit Plan progress be noted.