Subject:
External Audit - Audit Findings Report 2023/24
Date of meeting: 24 September
2024
Report
of:
External Auditor (Grant Thornton)
Contact Officer: Name: Andy
Conlan (Grant Thornton)
Email: Andy.N.Conlan@gt.uk.com
Ward(s) affected: All
For general release
Note:
Urgency
By reason of the special circumstances
below, and in accordance with section 100B(4)(b) of the 1972 Act,
the Chair of the meeting has been consulted and is of the opinion
that this item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of
urgency.
Note: Reasons for urgency
The special circumstances for non-compliance with Council
Procedure Rule 3, Access to Information Procedure Rule 5 and
Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended),
(items not considered unless the agenda is open to inspection at
least five days in advance of the meeting) were that final checks
by officers and the council’s external auditors were still
being completed on the audited Statement of Accounts.
1.1
The audit findings report sets
out the findings of the 2023/24 audit by the council’s
appointed external auditor, Grant Thornton. It includes the key
messages arising from the audit of the financial statements and the
results of work undertaken to assess the Authority’s
arrangements to secure value for money in its use of its resources.
The latter will be covered in more detail in the external
auditor’s full annual report which is currently subject to
final checks.
1.2
The report indicates the
external auditor’s anticipated opinion on the council’s
financial statements and advises the committee of any outstanding
audit queries.
2
Recommendations
2.1
That the committee note the
findings set out in the 2023/24 Audit Findings Report and ask
questions of the auditor as necessary and raise any other matters
relevant to the audit of the 2023/24 financial
statements.
3
Context and background
information
3.1
The council’s 2023/24
Statement of Accounts are required under statute and regulation to
be published in draft by 31 May and the audited version published
by the deadline of 30 September 2024.
3.2
Committee consideration of the
audit findings report and audited 2023/24 Statement of Accounts
(subject to conclusion of final audit queries) are part of meeting
the legal requirements prior to final publication.
4.1
This committee is the committee
charged with responsibility for approval of the council’s
Statement of Accounts and as such is duty-bound to consider the
findings and recommendations of the external auditor in considering
its approval of the statements.
5
Community engagement and
consultation
5.1
The draft 2023/24 Statement of
Accounts were published/made available on the council’s
website on 3 July 2024 through to 11 August 2023 (30 working
days).
6
Conclusion
6.1
The external audit feedback on
the council’s 2023/24 Statement of Accounts is set out in
Grant Thornton’s audit findings report at Appendix
1.
7
Financial
implications
7.1
The Audit Findings Report at
Appendix 1 sets out the financial implications of the
auditor’s findings and confirms the audit fees for the
year.
Finance officer consulted: Nigel
Manvell Date consulted:
17/09/24
8.1
The legal framework for
approving the council’s statement of accounts is provided by
regulation 9 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (statutory
129 instrument 2015/234) as amended by the Accounts and Audit
(Amendment) Regulations 2021 (statutory instrument 2021/263).
The Regulations permit either Full Council or a committee of the
council to approve the statement of accounts. At Brighton &
Hove City Council, the Audit, Standards & General Purposes
Committee is the designated committee for this purpose.
Consideration of the auditor’s findings as set out in their
report at Appendix 1 is commensurate with this duty.
Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria
Simpson Date consulted:
17/09/24
9.1
None directly applicable to
this report.
10.1
None directly applicable to
this report.
11
Other Implications
11.1
Not applicable.
Supporting Documentation
Appendices
Appendix 1: Grant Thornton Brighton & Hove City Council
2023/24 Audit Findings Report
Background documents
Working Papers in support of the audit which were available
during the publicised Public Inspection period.