Issue - meetings

To consider the Draft Grant Thornton Audit Findings Report for year ended 31 March 2025.

The Committee received an Audit Findings report from Grant Thornton for the year ended 31 March 2025. The report included a follow-up relating to the previous year’s recommendations which the Council had responded well to. Five new actions had been recommended and Grant Thornton were comfortable with management responses to them. Though improvement was still required to the quality of working papers and audit evidence in certain areas, this was expected due to the lack of audits for a number of years. Overall, Grant Thornton observed positive progress against previous recommendations.

Grant Thornton clarified that though the report was labelled ‘Draft’, they were not proposing to undertake more work and other than some possible minor amendments, this should be considered the final version of the report.

The Committee noted the Council was on a positive trajectory and Grant Thornton confirmed that they were not dissatisfied with any of the progress the Council had made. The Committee expressed concern that there was no assurance over opening balances and this would be passed to the new West Surrey authority, however a majority of councils merging into the new authority would be in the same position. There were various competing priorities with Local Government Reorganisation, but a number of finance related workstreams were being undertaken as part of the transition. The Committee explored and requested clarification on the various risks referenced in the report.

The Committee resolved to note the draft Grant Thornton Audit Findings report for year ended 31 March 2025.