Issue - meetings

To receive the final 2021/22 Audit Findings report and consider the management response to the recommendations in the External Auditors report.

The Committee received a report which asked Members to consider the management response to the recommendations in the external auditors report along with the final 2021/22 Audit Findings report.

Virginia Rennie, Strategy & Commissioning Manager - Finance, introduced the report, signposting Members to the highlighted areas which were the amendments carried out between January and March this year.  In summary the report addressed all of the amendments and notified of the progress made in completing the work.

Councillor Feeney made comment on one of the items listed in Appendix B which related to the ‘Gifts and Hospitality Policy’.  She did not feel that the £5 value was a lot of money and advised that, in her experience, she was not aware of individuals being given costly gifts.  Virginia Rennie explained that a review of the policy had taken place and the updated version was available on the intranet.

Councillor Gifford was pleased to see a response from officers relating to the issue of funding for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.  He reiterated the importance of adequate funding for the service and the need to ensure it was delivered robustly.

Having considered the report, the Audit & Standards Committee

Resolved that

1)    the final 2021/22 Audit Findings report attached at Appendix A, is noted; and

2)    the management response to the recommendations in the external auditors reports as set out in Appendix B, is noted.