This report updates the Committee on progress with the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Darren Carter, Director of Finance, submitted a report providing an update on the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2018/19 and 2019/20.  Thereport stated that the draft 2018/19Accounts had beenhanded overto EYin February2020. Thesehad been updated inNovember 2020for therevised broughtforward 2017/18balances, althoughthe Auditof these Accounts had commenced in September 2020. Officershad almostcompleted the2019/20 accountsbut hadagreed withEY tofocus on prioritising and resolvingthe 2018/19 outstandingqueries and gettingthese signed off beforepassing themto EY.This wouldmean thatany changesas aresult ofthe 2018/19 auditcould be updated andincluded in the brought forwardbalances from2018/19 to save moreaudit time.  It was anticipated that the Audit work on the 2018/19 Accounts would be completed by the end of April 2021.  Additionally, EY had advised that the audit for the 2019/20 Statement of Accounts would not begin until August 2021, at the earliest.  EY had also advised that they would look to cover aspects of the 2020/21 accounts alongside the audit of the 2019/20 accounts which would result in greater efficiency.  The aim would be to have both 2019/20 and 2020/21 Statement of Accounts signed off by 31 December 2021.

Resolved:    

(1)      That the progress made in relation to the Audit of the 2018/19 Accounts be noted;

(2)      That the progress being made in closing the 2019/20 Accounts be noted.