Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the External Auditor, Mazars relating to the Audit Strategy Memorandum (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Pensions (LGPS) noted that representatives from Mazars were unfortunately not able to attend, however, noted the report set out the terms of reference for External Audit for the year ending 31 March 2023.  He noted the report contained sections on risk, statement of accounts and explained that the DCC Statement of Accounts and PFC Statement of Accounts had been completed and signed of by the Corporate Director of Resources within the statutory deadline of 31 May and published the same day.  He added that only around one third of Local Authorities had met this deadline. 

The Corporate Director of Resources thanked the Finance Manager and her Team for all their work in producing the Statement of Accounts and meeting deadlines which had now reverted to pre-pandemic timescales.  He noted that DCC was only one of three Local Authorities within the region that had met the deadlines.

Councillor J Atkinson asked as regards costs relating to external audit and pre-pandemic levels.  The Corporate Director of Resources noted there had been an increase, however, updated audit requirements and value for money elements had increased costs.  Councillor J Atkinson still felt the increase was large.

The Corporate Director of Resources noted that one element was that costs had increased across the whole sector, not just for the North-East, with a lot of the large accountancy firms no longer being interested such work and therefore there had been some Government money in terms of making such work more attractive to those large accountancy firms.

Resolved:

That the External Audit - Audit Strategy Memorandum be noted.