Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Council’s External Auditor.

The Senior Manager, Audit of Grant Thornton presented the Final Audit Findings Report 2022/23 making the following points:

• work was complete and had stated in March that this would be brought back to committee;
• where had been no material change but work on the classification of the Guildhall Shopping Centre had been carried out;
• Grant Thornton had concluded that management judgement was acceptable but a critical judgement note was now included; and
• an unqualified opinion would be issued.

The Senior Manager, Audit and Strategic Director for Corporate Resources answered Members’ questions making the following points:

• there had been no change to the report which had been agreed in March other than the addition of the critical judgement note;
• the cost of appeals was small as final year of business rate valuation and no ongoing appeal;
• 2023/24 new valuation was in place therefore higher increase offset by appeals settled (for example, RAMM appeal, rates were paid therefore once appeal heard and rates reduced the difference was repaid);

·         the table in page 42 was a snapshot from a report which came to committee with all the detail (Annual Auditor’s Report);

·         revision of Performance Monitoring Report was being looked at; and

• a significant report was being drafted pertaining to associated bodies which would go to Executive and Council but could come to Audit and Governance Committee.

The Audit & Governance Committee received and noted the External Auditors Final Audit Findings Report 2022/23