Report by Director of Finance/ KPMG, External Auditors

Further to Minute 24 of Audit & Governance Committee on 21 January 2025, the Director of Finance submitted a covering report on behalf of the Council’s External Auditor, KPMG, which had attached their Annual Report, providing a summary of the findings and key issues arising from the 2023/24 audit.  The report had been prepared in line with the requirements set out in the Code of Audit Practice by the National Audit Office and was required to be published by the Council with the annual report and accounts.  The report set out a summary of KPMG’s conclusions that were required in respect of their responsibilities.  In relation to the Council’s Accounts, KPMG would issue a disclaimed opinionas part of the nationally agreed process to bring audit opinions back up to date. The significant financial statement audit risks identified were valuation of land and buildings, valuation of investment property, management override of controls and valuation of post-retirement benefit obligations, details of which were described in the Auditor’s report.  There were not any significant inconsistencies between the content of the narrative report and KPMG’s knowledge of the Council.  In addition, regarding Value for Money, the Council was found to have appropriate arrangements in place with no identified significant weaknesses in respect of arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Emberson and seconded by Councillor Terry and CARRIED:

Resolved –

That the Auditor’s Annual Report for 2023/24, as attached to the report, be noted.