Issue - meetings

[To receive a proposal on the appointment of external auditors.]

That the invitation from Public Sector Audit Appointments to opt into the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023 be approved.

The Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Councillor Alan Butt presented the report on Appointment of the External Auditor for approval. The Council received an invitation from Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) to opt into the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023. The arrangement with our current external auditors Grant Thornton expires in 2022-2023, and a new external auditor (which includes the independent audit of the Council’s statutory accounts and arrangements for achieving value for money) had to be appointed before the end of December 2022.

The Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Councillor Alan Butt added the Council had previously opted into the national scheme the alternative would be for the Council to procure its own auditor.

The Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Councillor Alan Butt added the December Audit and Risk Committee considered the report and recommended Council opt into the national scheme . The benefits of opting into the scheme were detailed in the report.

The Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Councillor Alan Butt proposed the recommendation and the Vice Chair of Audit and Risk Committee Councillor Jonathan Yardley seconded the recommendation.

The report was debated by Council.

Resolved:

That the invitation from Public Sector Audit Appointments to opt into the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023 be approved.

[To receive a proposal on the appointment of external auditors.]

Peter Farrow, Head of Audit, presented the Appointment of the External Auditor report, which was recommending that the Committee seek approval from full Council that the Council  opt into the national agreement with Public Sector Auditor Appointments regarding the recruitment of the External Auditors from April 2023.

Resolved:

That the invitation from the Public sector Audit Appointments to opt into the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023 be recommended to Council for approval.