Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 November 2024 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

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 Director of Finance – Section 151 Officer.

The report provides details of the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts.

Audit Committee is requested to:

·           Consider and approve the council’s 2023/24 Statement of Accounts as presented (appendix one);

·           Note the draft Management Letter of Representation 2023/24 (appendix two); and,

·           In the event of changes being made during the final audit review work, delegate the approval of the 2023/24 Statement Accounts to the Director of Finance - Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee no later than 28 February.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies Tel:  474 4033 Email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Finance – Section 151 Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided details of the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members thanked all those involved in the preparation of the Statement of Accounts and commented on the explanations and clarity contained within the report.

·         Members raised the issue of property valuations and the five year rolling plan and queried whether this was standard practice within Stockport and what happened elsewhere.

·         Does the number of wholly owned companies make things easier or more complicated with regard to auditing and accounting?

·         A short discussion took place regarding how officers made the accounts accessible to the residents of Stockport.

·         In response to a Member question, the Section 151 Officer stated that he was absolutely confident that he had all the information required to prepare the accounts and also in the robustness of the processes.

·         Members commented that it had been really useful to attend the training session on the Statement of Accounts and that it had assisted greatly with their understanding.

RESOLVED – (i) That the Council’s 2023/24 Statement of Accounts as presented (Appendix one) be approved

(ii) That the draft Management Letter of Representation 2023/34 (Appendix two) be noted.

(iii) That in the event of changes being made during the final audit review work, the approval of the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts be delegated to the Director of Finance- Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Chair of Audit Committee no later than 28 February 2025.

To consider a report of the external auditors, Forvis Mazars.

The Completion Report provides an update on the work that Forvis Mazars have undertaken as the auditor for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

Audit Committee is requested to note the report.

The external auditors, Forvis Mazars submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update on the work that Forvis Mazars had undertaken as the auditor for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.