Issue - meetings

This paper provides the Committee with a report on Grant Thornton’s progress in delivering their responsibilities as the Council’s external auditors.  The paper also includes a summary of emerging national issues and developments.

Declarations of interest:

None.

Witnesses:

Thomas Ball, Manager – Grant Thornton

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The representative of Grant Thornton introduced the update and confirmed that the audit of the financial statements 2014/15 had been formally concluded after the Pension Fund Annual Report had been finalised, and the audit certificate had been issued on 30 November 2015.

2.    Members queried why 3-5 members were being proposed as an ideal size for an audit committee given the different size and responsibilities of local authorities.  The Grant Thornton Manager suggested that this was a proposed average size and that committees will vary depending on the size and complexity of the local authority.  Surrey County Council’ audit committee would be at the top of that range, if not bigger. 

3.    The Chairman queried what Grant Thornton’s response was to the National Audit Office’s consultation.  The Grant Thornton Manager did not know the details of the response but was able to confirm that the response had been positively incorporated into the final guidance that was issued. 

4.    Members requested that Grant Thornton met informally with the committee to discuss its effectiveness in the context of the cross-sector review of audit committee effectiveness (Recommendation Tracker ref: A39/15).

Action/Further information to note:

Grant Thornton to meet informally with the committee to discuss its effectiveness in the context of the cross-sector review of audit committee effectiveness.

RESOLVED:

That the committee NOTES the external auditor’s progress report.