Meeting documents

No apologies were received.

No apologies were received.

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website at

County Councillors membership of Town, City, Parish or District Councils and this will be displayed in the meeting room (Where relevant).

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

There were no new declarations.

There were no new declarations.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The Audit Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th June 2020 were accurate, and the Chair signed them.

The Audit Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th June 2020 were accurate, and the Chair signed them.

The Chairman will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Committee’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting will be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

No questions or statements were received by the PQT deadline of 5pm on Friday 18 September.

No questions or statements were received by the PQT deadline of 5pm on Friday 18 September.

The Finance Director presented the report and summary and findings detailed below:-

As part of the formal process of closing the County Council’s 2019/20 accounts, the Chief Financial Officer was required to approve the draft Statement of Accounts by 31 August and the Audit Committee was required to approve the  ...  view the full decision text for item 198.

The Finance Director presented the report and summary and findings detailed below:-

As part of the formal process of closing the County Council’s 2019/20 accounts, the Chief Financial Officer was required to approve the draft Statement of Accounts by 31 August and the Audit Committee was required to approve the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 198.

The report covered the impact of Covid-19, the financial statements, emerging guidance issued by FRC and CIPFA, the audit risk assessment update, and new working arrangements during the pandemic.

The Committee noted the report.

193       The Audit Findings for Somerset County Council- Agenda Item6

The outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the normal operations of the Council. The Council have faced a number of challenges including operational capacity, remote working and delays from third  ...  view the full minutes text for item 199.

As part of the formal process of closing the Pension Fund’s 2019/20 accounts, the Chief Financial Officer is required to approve the draft Statement of Accounts by 31 August, this has already been done. The Audit Committee is subsequently required to approve the audited accounts by 30 November.

Grant Thornton  ...  view the full decision text for item 200.

As part of the formal process of closing the Pension Fund’s 2019/20 accounts, the Chief Financial Officer is required to approve the draft Statement of Accounts by 31 August, this has already been done. The Audit Committee is subsequently required to approve the audited accounts by 30 November.

Grant Thornton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 200.

The Internal Audit Assistant Director presented the report.

The schedule provided at Appendix B contains a list of all audits as agreed in the Annual Audit Plan 2020/21. It is important that Members are aware of the status of all audits and that this information helps them place reliance on  ...  view the full decision text for item 201.

The Internal Audit Assistant Director presented the report:-

The schedule provided at Appendix B contains a list of all audits as agreed in the Annual Audit Plan 2020/21. It is important that Members are aware of the status of all audits and that this information helps them place reliance on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 201.

The Finance Director presented the report.

The report provided an update on the independent review into local authority financial reporting and external audit review by Sir Tony Redmond which was published on the 8th September.

The Committee noted the content of the report and its potential impact upon the Council  ...  view the full decision text for item 202.

The Finance Director presented the report.

The report provided an update on the independent review into local authority financial reporting and external audit review by Sir Tony Redmond which was published on the 8th September.

Redmond found that there is a lack of coherence in local audit arrangements and in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 202.

This report reviews the recovery of outstanding debts (monies owed to the Council) and the current performance. The analysis below is based on the total of annual debt raised which is between £120m - £135m. The monthly outstanding debt can range between £7m-20m.

Services’ total outstanding debt reported on the  ...  view the full decision text for item 203.

This report reviews the recovery of outstanding debts (monies owed to the Council) and the current performance. The analysis below is based on the total of annual debt raised which is between £120m - £135m. The monthly outstanding debt can range between £7m-20m.

Services’ total outstanding debt reported on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 203.

The Director of Finance introduced the report.

Under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (CFA 2017), the Council, if found to be facilitating tax evasion, could face an unlimited fine and consequent damage to its reputation. The Council would be guilty of the offence where a third party commits tax evasion  ...  view the full decision text for item 204.

The Director of Finance introduced the report.

Under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (CFA 2017), the Council, if found to be facilitating tax evasion, could face an unlimited fine and consequent damage to its reputation. The Council would be guilty of the offence where a third party commits tax evasion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 204.

To consider this report

An additional item was requested for an update from the independent review of financial reporting and external audit.

The Committee noted the workplan that listed future agenda items and reports for the next meeting on 19 November 2020, and the workplan was accepted.

The Committee noted the workplan that listed future agenda items and reports for the next meeting on 19 November 2020, and the workplan was accepted.

An additional item was requested for an update from the independent review of financial reporting and external audit.

The Chairman may raise any items of urgent business.

There were no other items of business.

There were no other items of business.