Agenda item

The Committee noted a report of the External Auditor which provided details of progress on the external audit of Durham County Council to date (for copy see file of Minutes).

Mr Collins of Mazars informed the Committee that this year there was an early close down of the accounts with a deadline of the end of July 2017.  These would be presented at the July Audit Committee together with the value for money conclusion.  Work on the housing benefit subsidy would be presented to Committee later in the year and it was noted that this area of work would need an appointed reporting accountant from 2018/19.

Councillor Davinson asked if the work already carried out for the Highways Assets could be used at a later date.  Mr Collins advised that discussions were ongoing with CIPFA but as yet no dates had been given.  It was hoped that a lot of the work undertaken by Mazars and the Council could be utilised.

Resolved:

That the contents of the external auditor’s progress report be noted.