Issue - meetings

This report summarises the key messages as detailed in the Grant Thornton Audit Findings Report that was presented to the Audit and Governance Committee on 27 July 2015.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Thomas Ball, Manager (Grant Thornton)

Andy Mack, Engagement Lead (Grant Thornton)

Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer

Jonathan Evans, Principal Accountant – Financial Accounting

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Grant Thornton Manager introduced the report and informed the committee that the Whole of Government Accounts was nearly complete.

2.    The Grant Thornton Manager informed the committee that the Surrey Pension Fund Annual Report was still outstanding.  The Deputy Chief Finance Officer pointed out that the statutory deadline was December 2015 but stated that officers would be working on bringing the timeline in line with the Council accounts.

3.    With regard to the recommendation to obtain legal advice to ensure that the approach taken to the de-recognition of schools and the use of the statutory override is appropriate, Cipfa had recently issued some useful guidance. Grant Thornton may alter or remove the recommendation on the basis of this guidance but was currently waiting on the Council’s interpretation of the guidance.  The Deputy Chief Finance Officer informed the committee that Legal Services was reviewing the guidance as part of its development of legal advice on this issue.  The Chairman stressed that he wanted to ensure that there is no caveat in next year’s accounts. 

Action/Further information to note:

None.

RESOLVED:

That the committee NOTES the report.

Committee next steps:

None.