Issue - meetings

Report to follow

Matt Sanham introduced the report and made the following comments:

·  This report identified number of delays in getting the report signed-off

·  There are a number of issues picked up not within the accounts per say but with the delays in producing statements generally across local government;

·  These delays had impacted on all opening accounts, which in turn had opened another discussion in the sector on how this situation could best be managed;

·  The Council had been discussions with Grant Thornton how to progress the signing-off of accounts in view of the challenges highlighted above.

Matt Dean, Director, Grant Thornton, LLP made additional comments as follows:

·  The report before the committee set out where Grant Thornton were with regards to working on TDC accounts;

·  There were issues that often arise across the sector and the latest issue was on pensions. KCC Pensions department would need to assess whether positive contributions raised in future meant that there may be a liability currently;

·  Grant Thornton were currently liaising with TDC and KCC Pensions Fund on this matter to assess whether that had an impact on the 2021/22 accounts. It was hoped that there was no significant impact.

Councillor Pope proposed, Councillor Edwards seconded and members agreed that the following recommendation be forwarded to the next quorate meeting of the Governance & Audit Committee for confirmation:

1.  That the committee considers the Audit Findings for the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts and notes the report;

2.  In the unlikely event that a minor change would be required, i.e. immaterial, the Section 151 be delegated the authority to sign-off the Audit Findings Report, in consultation with the committee Chair.