The most significant item scheduled for discussion was the conclusion of the audits for the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23. The Committee was also scheduled to receive an update on the progress of internal audit work. Other items included a presentation on External Audit for Member Development, and the approval of the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Statement of Accounts.

Conclusion of the Audits for 2021/22 and 2022/23

The Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the external audit for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The backlog in the publication of audited accounts of local bodies in England has grown to an unacceptable level, peaking on 30 September 2023 at 918 set of unaudited accounts. Without decisive action, the backlog risks rising to over a thousand.

Appendix D provides details of the measures put in place to clear the audit backlog. Due to a backstop date of 13 December 2024, imposed by the government for the publication of audited accounts up to and including 2022/23, it was not possible to complete the audit work, and so it was proposed to issue a disclaimer audit opinion for both years.

The Committee was scheduled to note the letter to those charged with governance on the application of the local authority backstop, and the Auditor’s Annual Report 2022/23, included as appendices to the report pack.

Internal Audit Progress Report 2024/25

The Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress made by internal audit in 2024/25, including the outcomes from recently completed audits.

Internal Audit identified that risk assessments for health and safety were not aligned with HSE guidance, and risks relating to regulatory action were not adequately reflected in risk management processes. Internal Audit made a total of nine findings, including two high-priority findings and six medium priority findings.

Audit Committee Member Development - External Audit

The Committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on External Audit. The previous meeting had included a presentation on the Changing Face of External Fraud in Local Government.

Statement of Accounts 2021/22 and 2022/23

The Committee was scheduled to approve and sign the Statement of Accounts for both 2021/22 and 2022/23, as well as the letter of representation for both years. The reports provided details of the audit backstop provisions.

The Government, on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) has also laid a revised ‘Code of Audit Practice 2024’, that requires auditors to give their opinion in time to enable local bodies to comply with the backstop date.

A member working group had met on 24 January 2023 to review the 2021/22 accounts, and 20 September 2023 to review the 2022/23 accounts. Notes from those meetings were included in the report packs.