Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee
Agenda Item 8
Subject: Informing the Audit Risk Assessment 2025/26
Date of meeting: 23 June 2026
Report of: Director, Property and Finance
Contact Officer: Name: Jane Strudwick
Email: jane.strudwick@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
1.1 Informing the audit risk assessment is an external audit related review which is completed by the council’s management ahead of the main audit. The completed document (“Informing the Audit Risk Assessment 2025-26”) is attached at Appendix 1.
1.2 The purpose of the document is “to contribute towards the effective two-way communication between Brighton & Hove City Council’s external auditors and the Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee”. The report sets out audit queries and the management responses covering general enquires of management, fraud, laws and regulations, related parties, going concern and accounting estimates.
2.1 That Committee notes the audit risk assessment document.
2.2 That having considered the audit risk assessment document, Committee indicates which (if any) additional matters it considers should be notified to the external auditor on the basis that they may also impact on the planned audit work and context for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.
3.1 External audit is an annual statutory requirement for local authorities. The council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, has outlined a number of inquiries which will allow them to inform the audit process for 2025/26 accounts. Appendix 1 sets out the inquiries raised and the management response in detail.
4.1 Along with every other council in England, the council elected to join the sector-wide procurement of external audit and is therefore bound by the terms negotiated by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA). Under this arrangement, Grant Thornton are the appointed external auditor for Brighton & Hove City Council. The authority has recourse to PSAA, who perform a contract monitoring role, if it is dissatisfied with the performance of the external auditor in the delivery of the contract.
5.1 Not applicable.
6.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report.
Name of finance officer consulted: Haley Woollard
Date consulted: 11/06/26
7.1 The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 makes it a requirement that the council’s external auditors consider whether the council has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources (securing value for money). This committee is the appropriate body for the consideration of this report by elected members of the council
Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson
Date consulted: 08/06/26
8. Risk implications
8.1 There are none identified.
9.1 There are none identified.
10.1 There are none identified.
11.1 This report and appendix are primarily for noting unless the Committee has additional issues to raise (as set out under section 2 Recommendations).
Supporting Documentation
1. BHCC Informing the Audit Risk Assessment 2025-26