Agenda item - Audited Statement of Accounts 2022/23

Report of the Chief Finance Officer

That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Notes the findings of the external auditor Grant Thornton as set out in their audit findings report (a separate item on this agenda).

2)             Notes the results of the public inspection of the accounts (paragraph 5).

3)             Approves the Letter of Representation on behalf of the council (Appendix 1).

4)             Approves the audited Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 (Appendix 3) subject to the auditor finding no material misstatements in the conclusion of the audit

5)             Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer for any final wording or immaterial adjustments to the accounts prior to publication.

22.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Governance, Resource & People that provided information about the audit of the council’s 2022/23 Statement of Accounts and recommended approval of the 2022/23 audited accounts and the Letter of Representation on behalf of the council.

22.2      Councillor Robinson moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.5 as shown below:

2.5          Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer for any final wording or immaterial adjustments to the accounts prior to publication subject to the external auditor finding no misstatements.

22.3      Councillor Burden seconded the motion.

22.4      Councillors Atkinson, Czolak and Medows asked questions and contributed to the debate.

22.5      The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

22.6      The Chair then put the recommendations as amended to the vote that were approved.

22.7      Resolved-

That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Notes the findings of the external auditor Grant Thornton as set out in their audit findings report (a separate item on this agenda).

2)             Notes the results of the public inspection of the accounts (paragraph 5).

3)             Approves the Letter of Representation on behalf of the council (Appendix 1).

4)             Approves the audited Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 (Appendix 3) subject to the auditor finding no material misstatements in the conclusion of the audit

5)             Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer for any final wording or immaterial adjustments to the accounts prior to publication subject to the external auditor finding no misstatements.