Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 14 July 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Councillor                  Interest

Mike Hurleston         Agenda Item 6 ‘Statement of Accounts 2020/21’ as a member of the Board of the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation.

It was noted that the Standards Committee had approved a dispensation to enable

Councillor Hurleston as a member of the Board of the Stockport Town Centre West

Mayoral Development Corporation and who would otherwise have had a personal

and prejudicial interest in the matter being discussed to take part in the debate and

vote at the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meetingon the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions).

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides Members with details of the Council’s response to queries raised by the external auditors, Mazars, as part of the Audit Risk Assessment.

Audit Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Members with details of the Council’s response to queries raised by the external auditors, Mazars, as part of the Audit Risk Assessment.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.

The report provides Members with the detail of the Annual Accounts 2020/21.

The Audit Committee is asked to:

·           Consider the Council’s 2020/21 Statement of Accounts; and, either

Where the outstanding work in relation to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund is completed

·           Approve the Council’s 2020/21 Statement of Accounts and minute the approval and signing of the Statement of Accounts and Management Letter of Representation (Appendix Two),

or

Where the outstanding work in relation to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund is not completed

·           In the event of no material changes as a result of the outstanding audit work, delegate the approval of the 2020/21 Statement Accounts to the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee on receipt of advice from the External Auditor.  

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Members with the detail of the Annual Accounts 2020/21.

The following questions were made/issues raised:

·         In response to a question from the Chair relating to missing data from a pie chart regarding the age profile of the population in Stockport, Members were assured that this would be corrected before final publication of the accounts.

·         Members commented that the whole of the introductory text was very clear and well presented.

·         Members noted the volatility in relation to valuations and the reasons behind this.

·         Members of Audit Committee wished to record their thanks to all staff involved in production of the Annual Accounts.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That where the outstanding work in relation to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund is not completed, in the event of no material changes as a result of the outstanding audit work, the approval of the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (section 151 Officer) in consultation with the Chair of Audit Committee on receipt of advice from the External Auditor.

Audit Committee is requested to:

(i)           Note the Council’s 2019/20 Statement of Accounts.

(ii)          Note the Management Letter of Representation and,

(iii)        In the event of no material changes as a result of the outstanding audit work, delegate the approval of the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts to the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee on receipt of advice from the External Auditor.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

RESOLVED – (i) That the Council’s 2019/20 Statement of Accounts be noted.

(ii) That the Management Letter of Representation be noted.

(iii) In the event of no material changes as a result of the outstanding audit work, approval of the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts be delegated to the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee on receipt of advice from the External Auditor.