The Council’s External Auditors, Ernst & Young LLP have substantially completed their audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2019/20. This report presented their conclusions and a revised draft of the Financial Statements.

External Audit propose to issue an unqualified audit opinion for the Statement of Accounts 2019/20. No opinion on the value for money conclusion has been issued to date as work is still in progress.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Nolan and SECONDED by Cllr Tanner to

approve the recommendations in the report.

Both Mrs Van Mellaerts, Director of Corporate Resource and Mr Neil Harris, External Auditor, were present at the meeting and summarised

the report. A full discussion on the report by the committee followed.  Mrs Van Mellaerts and Mr Harris thanked the staff involved for their hard work during these unprecedented and difficult times.

Members raised concerns regarding the outstanding element on the Authority’s documented assessment and disclosure on its judgements associated with going concern over twelve months.  Officers confirmed that this work is ongoing.  Although the Council are facing financial pressures due to Covid-19, the MTFS will confirm the Council as a going concern.

A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY  that Members:

1.    Consider the Audit Results Report 2019/20 in Appendix A and note the conclusions contained in it.

2.    Consider the Letter of Representation in Appendix B and delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Chair of Audit & Scrutiny to approve and sign the letter upon conclusion of the Audit.

3.    Delegate to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Chair of Audit & Scrutiny the final approval of the Statement of Accounts for 2019/20, on completion of the final elements of the audit.

Reason for Recommendation

To enable the Council to conclude the Statement of Accounts process for 2019/20, which has a statutory deadline of 30^thNovember 2020.