Issue - meetings

To consider the external auditor’s report.  

The committee considered the 2012/13 audit fee letter from the council’s external auditor, Ernst & Young.  This set out the audit work proposed for the council for the 2012/13 financial year, and the actual audit fee for 2010/11. 

The fees reflected the risk-based approach to audit planning set out in the Code of Audit Practice.  The indicative fee of £61,397 would cover the cost of auditing the council’s financial statements, providing a value for money conclusion, and Whole of Government accounts.  The committee also noted that there was a separate fee of £19,750 for the certification of claims and returns in 2012/13. 

The committee was pleased to note that the fee was reducing, subject to the external auditor finding no issues that required further investigation. 

RESOLVED: To note the report.