Oakham Town Council set to receive a qualified audit again
All members received the following message from the deputy Mayor today
he is one of two Cllrs who make up our finance working group.
My comments are in blue
MESSAGE FROM CLLR HALEY
The Finance Working Group held a productive meeting with OTC’s appointed Internal Auditor today. The purpose of the meeting was to gather further evidence for the Internal Audit report and to discuss and to scope out the work required to fulfill the Council’s end of year statutory obligations.
More talking since this internal auditor was appointed this has happened a lot at £40 an hour
plus millage. It would be nice if he was permitted to get on with what he meant to do, and that
is to audit our accounts and procedures, his last bill made up of mainly meetings with the Clerk
was for £861.36
This is on-going work that commenced during September 2015. The Internal Auditor has met with Richard on 3 occasions and has submitted interim reports. A substantial amount of audit work has been completed and non mandatory recommendations made that have been implemented.
His view is that OTC’s Policies and Procedures are good and in his opinion, better than many in the sector.
Yes our policies and procedures might be good or even better than many in the sector, but
unfortunately they are no good if they are not implemented or followed.
There remains a considerable amount of work to be completed in a short time, particularly concerning end of year matters.
This comment there remains a considerable amount of work to be completed is nonsense
The Clerk actually runs a very tidy office and everything relating to the accounts can be easily found and there are less than 500 transactions for the year.
The External Auditors have requested a submission date of 10 June. Last year the date was set at 30 June.
The date was not set for the 30th June last year, it is always the 10th with the 30th being the last day.
Last year we missed the 30th and this was given for one of the reasons for giving us a qualified audit.
Both members of the Finance Working Group will be on holiday between now and 10 June.
Is it me or is it a coincidence both Councillors who were meant to ensure we did not
see a repeat of last years failings go away on holiday for a month on the eve of the town meeting and the AGM?
Also Council needs to approve the annual accounts. To avoid the risk of a late submission and a resulting qualified external audit report, the Working Group is recommending that Council requests an extension to this date.
Unfortunately the external auditor can not grant an extension.
Michael Haley
If the internal auditor is permitted to get on with the task of carrying out the internal audit
and the electors rights are permitted there should be no reason why the accounts can not be put
before the council in time for approval or rejection and submission to the external auditor.
That would reduce the reasons for a qualified audit by one.
All Councils receive this basic 6 page guide each year simply explaining the basic end of year requirements.
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/publications/1963-annual-return-for-smaller-authorities-2016/file
Oakhm Town Council in the same position it was this time last year perhaps worse if you
consider the thousands of pounds of extra money that has been spent to avoid us ending
up in the same position as last year.
All members received the following message from the deputy Mayor today
he is one of two Cllrs who make up our finance working group.
My comments are in blue
MESSAGE FROM CLLR HALEY
The Finance Working Group held a productive meeting with OTC’s appointed Internal Auditor today. The purpose of the meeting was to gather further evidence for the Internal Audit report and to discuss and to scope out the work required to fulfill the Council’s end of year statutory obligations.
More talking since this internal auditor was appointed this has happened a lot at £40 an hour
plus millage. It would be nice if he was permitted to get on with what he meant to do, and that
is to audit our accounts and procedures, his last bill made up of mainly meetings with the Clerk
was for £861.36
This is on-going work that commenced during September 2015. The Internal Auditor has met with Richard on 3 occasions and has submitted interim reports. A substantial amount of audit work has been completed and non mandatory recommendations made that have been implemented.
His view is that OTC’s Policies and Procedures are good and in his opinion, better than many in the sector.
Yes our policies and procedures might be good or even better than many in the sector, but
unfortunately they are no good if they are not implemented or followed.
There remains a considerable amount of work to be completed in a short time, particularly concerning end of year matters.
This comment there remains a considerable amount of work to be completed is nonsense
The Clerk actually runs a very tidy office and everything relating to the accounts can be easily found and there are less than 500 transactions for the year.
The External Auditors have requested a submission date of 10 June. Last year the date was set at 30 June.
The date was not set for the 30th June last year, it is always the 10th with the 30th being the last day.
Last year we missed the 30th and this was given for one of the reasons for giving us a qualified audit.
Both members of the Finance Working Group will be on holiday between now and 10 June.
Is it me or is it a coincidence both Councillors who were meant to ensure we did not
see a repeat of last years failings go away on holiday for a month on the eve of the town meeting and the AGM?
Also Council needs to approve the annual accounts. To avoid the risk of a late submission and a resulting qualified external audit report, the Working Group is recommending that Council requests an extension to this date.
Unfortunately the external auditor can not grant an extension.
Michael Haley
If the internal auditor is permitted to get on with the task of carrying out the internal audit
and the electors rights are permitted there should be no reason why the accounts can not be put
before the council in time for approval or rejection and submission to the external auditor.
That would reduce the reasons for a qualified audit by one.
All Councils receive this basic 6 page guide each year simply explaining the basic end of year requirements.
There is one change this year and that is the council must tell the external auditor the commencement date of when they gave notification for the the period given for the exercising of public rights.
We can not give notice of those rights until we have a set of internally audited accounts and that
is what is delaying things now.
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/publications/1963-annual-return-for-smaller-authorities-2016/file
Oakhm Town Council in the same position it was this time last year perhaps worse if you
consider the thousands of pounds of extra money that has been spent to avoid us ending
up in the same position as last year.
