Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on the work of the External Auditors.

Keith Mungadzi, Senior Audit Manager at Grant Thornton provided a verbal update on the status of Grant Thornton’s Auditor's Annual Report 23-24 and Audit Finding's Report 23-24 which were due to be considered at Audit Committee on 30 January 2025 to achieve national deadline timescales (28^th February 2025). The current audit work was in the fieldwork stage as all evidence had been received which was in the process of being evaluated and concluded. If there were any issues highlighted in the meantime, these would be addressed with the relevant management team contact at Spelthorne.

The Deputy Chief Executive reiterated that Grant Thornton were responsible for assessing the 2023-24 Audit opinions. In regards to addressing the audit backlog period relating to years 2018-19 up to and including financial year 2022-23, the Statutory Instrument laid on 9 September 2024 introduced a new backstop date of 13 December 2024. Consequently, an Extraordinary Audit Committee has been scheduled on 4^th December 2024 where we will receive a reports from BDO on Audit opinions/disclaimers on the audits for accounts for the backlog period.

The Committee raised concerns that they were required to approve five sets of external audited accounts at the upcoming Extraordinary Audit Committee without having sight of an audit plan from BDO which defined key areas of focus. The Committee formally requested that they are sent the recommendations they are due to endorse in advance of 4^th December 2024 in order to digest this information fully. The Deputy Chief Executive would confirm a date with BDO where committee members could see an early first draft of the reports on the external audited accounts and Value For Money Work.

The Committee resolved to note the External Audit Update.