External Audit update
To receive an update on the work of the External Auditors.
Minutes:
David Eagles, Senior Partner – Public Sector for BDO (the Council’s current external auditors), advised that they had not recommenced their 2018/19 audit of the financial statements and looked forward to the conclusion of the KPMG 2017/18 audit so they could work on the Council’s outstanding accounts audits.
BDO had completed a compliance review of the Homes England grant and submitted their findings to Homes England.
BDO had also completed their fieldwork on the 2019/20 benefits assurance programme and would submit their draft report in the coming days. There were not many issues to address, and it was anticipated that submission could be made by the end of March 2022 as agreed with the Department of Work and Pensions. The 2021/22 review was scheduled by BDO for summer 2022.
The Chief Finance Officer advised that an update on the KPMG Value for Money (VFM) Opinion would be reported as part of the VFM Working Group update.
Resolved to note the update.