Issue - meetings

Retender of External Audit Contract

Meeting: 14/12/2021 - County Council (Item 7)

7 Appointment of External Auditors pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Butlin (Deputy Leader of the Council) moved the motion which was seconded by Councillor Parminder Singh Birdi.

 

Councillor Bill Gifford considered that the recommendation was appropriate and he strongly supported its approval. 

 

Vote:

 

A vote was held. The recommendation was unanimously agreed.

 

Resolved:

 

That Council approves Warwickshire County Council opting-in to the sector-led body procurement, conducted by Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited, for the appointment of the Authority’s external auditors from April 2023.


Meeting: 04/11/2021 - Audit and Standards Committee (Item 6)

6 Appointment of External Auditors pdf icon PDF 236 KB

The report is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Virginia Rennie explained that it is considered appropriate and sensible to join the national procurement process for external auditors. The committee was informed that there are only nine firms nationally that offer the services that the County Council would require. The specifications for contracts are set out by the National Audit Office and there is no scope due to statute to build penalty cluses into contracts. Most councils will go down the route of joining the national procurement process.  

 

Ciaran McLaughlin added that the auditors have to strike a balance between price and quality of service. They also have to ensure they have the resources to deliver on the contract.  

 

Councillor Chris Kettle emphasised the need to obtain value for money in any contract. This had been picked up in a select committee report of 18 months ago.  

 

 

Resolved:

 

That the Audit and Standards Committee recommends to full Council that

Warwickshire County Council opt-in to the sector-led body procurement, conducted by Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited, for the appointment of the Authority’s external auditors from April 2023.