Issue - meetings

A receive a verbal update on the Draft 2022/23 Annual Financial Report and Approval for Publication of the Annual Governance Statement.

The Committee received a verbal update on the Annual Financial Report and Governance Statement from the Director of Finance and Corporate Services. The position had not changed from the previous meeting and the Council continued to require sign off from Ernst & Young on the 2021/22 Accounts prior to producing the draft 2022/23 Accounts. The Finance Team had provided expedient responses to audit requests from the firm with regard to the fixed asset calculations accounting treatment. Once this matter had closed, sign off could occur.

In response to a question by Councillor Kadewere, it was confirmed that delays had occurred due to limited resourcing at Ernst & Young and had affected sign off across local authorities. As other councils had been similarly impacted and Huntingdonshire District Council was not at fault, the Director of Finance and Corporate Services believed the Council would not be penalised for missing the statutory 2022/23 draft accounts deadline.