Agenda

The Minutes of Audit Committee held on the 16^th of September 2024 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Recommended – That the minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To inform Audit Committee ofthe outcome of the Strategic, Generic and Operational Risk Registers review;

Recommended - That Audit Committee note for informational purposes:

·         the content of the report;

·         and changes and additions to the Strategic Risk Register (Appendix 1, Page 6) and the Operational Risk Register (Appendix 2, Page 8)

To inform members of the Audit Reports issued during the period September 2024 – November 2024 and bring to the attention of the Committee what the key issues were.

Recommended – To note the content of this report for informational purposes.

External Auditors Forvis Mazars presents the following reports to the Audit Committee.

To provide the Audit Committee with the Auditors Annual Report summarising the work undertaken as Hyndburn Borough Councils external auditors for the year end 31^st of March 2022 and 31^st of March 2023.

Recommended – To note the content of this report for informational purposes.

To provide the Audit Committee with a summary of the external audit conclusions.

Recommended – To note the content of this report for informational purposes

To provide the Audit Committee with an update on progress in delivering the responsibilities as the Council’s external auditors.

Recommended – To note the content of this report for informational purposes

This report seeks the Committee’s approval for the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 and 2022/23 so that they can be published by the statutory backstop deadline of 13^th December 2024.

Recommended –

1)    Approve the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 as presented at Appendix 1 and, in doing so, agree that the Chairman of the Committee sign the Statement of Accounts as appropriate;

2)    Approve the Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 as presented at Appendix 2 and, in doing so, agree that the Chairman of the Committee sign the Statement of Accounts as appropriate;

3)    Approve the Letter of Representation for 2021/22 shown in Appendix 3;

4)    Approve the Letter of Representation for 2022/23 shown in Appendix 4.

The report is to inform the committee on the management actions required following the external audit work on the Annual Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 and 2022/23 and the Council’s Value for Money Arrangements for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

This report also updates the committee on the Council’s status with the 2023/24 accounts and external audit.

Recommended - The Audit Committee is recommended to note the content for informational purposes in relation to:

1)    The auditor’s recommendations on the Statement of Accounts 2021/22 and 2022/23 with the management actions listed in Appendix 1.

2)    The auditor’s recommendations on the Value for Money arrangements with the management actions listed at Appendix 2.

3)    The update provided on the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts and external audit.