Issue - meetings

To receive a report regarding the procurement of external audit.

The Committee considered a report regarding the procurement of external audit.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·       Under the Local Government Audit & Accountability Act 2014, the Council was required to have appointed an external auditor to audit the accounts.  The Council had previously opted into the ‘appointing person’ national auditor appointment arrangements established by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the period covering the accounts for 2018/19 to 2022/23. 

·       The Assistant Director Governance highlighted the possible options.  Officers recommended that PSAA be used, which was the approach used by most Councils.

·       Councillor Shenton asked whether there was a requirement to rotate auditors and was informed that PSAA had a requirement that engagement leads were rotated every 5 years (with a possibility of extension for 2 years).  There was some rotation at firm level.

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended to Council that external audit be procured using the Sector Led Body, the PSAA, by indicating an option to ‘opt in.’