The External Auditor will submit Document “AH” which sets out the plan for the external audit of the Council for the financial year 2020-2021.

Recommended –

That the Audit Strategy Memorandum 2020-2021 (Document “AH”) be considered and approved.

                                                            (Mark Outterside – 0191 3836300)

Resolved –

That the Audit Strategy Memorandum 2020-2021 (Document “AH”) was considered and approved.

                                                            (Mark Outterside – 0191 3836300)

The External Auditor submitted Document “AH” which set out the plan for the external audit of the Council for the financial year 2020-2021. The document:

·         described External Audit’s approach to the audit of the Council’s financial statements;

·         included External Audit’s assessment of the significant risks of material misstatement in the financial statements; and

outlined the proposed testing strategy to address the identified risks.

The Audit Strategy Memorandum also sets out External Audit’s approach to the Value for Money work, sufficient to enable External Audit to form a conclusion as to whether the Council had made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.

In response to a Member’s query relating to fraudulent covid 19 business grant claims, the Director of Finance and IT reported that checks were in place to ensure that the business grants being applied for were legitimate and that  applications were appropriately scrutinised.

Resolved –

That the Audit Strategy Memorandum 2020-2021 (Document “AH”) was considered and approved.