Issue - meetings

Further to minute 147 of 28 September 2017 the committee is requested to consider and note the key issues arising from the work of the council’s external auditors on the 2016-17 Accounts in the Annual Audit Letter from Ernst & Young LLP.

Mr P King, Ernst & Young LLP, introduced the annual audit letter for the period ending 31 March 2017. The messages were similar to those contained in the audit results report considered at the last meeting and he had nothing particular to point out to the committee except the earlier statutory deadline for production and audit of the 2017-18 financial statements.

Mrs Belenger advised that planning was underway to enable this to be carried out between the beginning of June and the end July 2018. Mrs Belenger assured the committee that the trial carried out this year had been reasonably successful. Lessons had been learned and changes put in place in order that the deadlines would be achieved in 2018.

Mr King informed the committee that there would a change to the EY audit team from January 2018. He would be moving off the audit and would be replaced by Mr Kevin Suter, who would lead the audit from now on. Mr Young had reduced his hours and would be replaced by Mr Jason Jones, who was also the audit manager for Arun District Council. EY considered it sensible to have the same audit manager across both authorities.

He thanked the committee and particularly the Chairman for the support he had received over the last five years.

RESOLVED

That the annual audit letter ending 31 March 2017 be noted.