South Staffordshire Council - Statement of Audit Progress FINAL

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Audit Summary Report January 2007 Statement of Audit Progress South Staffordshire Council Audit 2006-2007 External audit is an essential element in the process of accountability for public money and makes an important contribution to the stewardship of public resources and the corporate governance of public services. Audit in the public sector is underpinned by three fundamental principles: • auditors are appointed independently from the bodies being audited; • the scope of auditors' work is extended to cover not only the audit of financial statements but also value for money and the conduct of public business; and • auditors may report aspects of their work widely to the public and other key stakeholders. The duties and powers of auditors appointed by the Audit Commission are set out in the Audit Commission Act 1998 and the Local Government Act 1999 and the Commission's statutory Code of Audit Practice. Under the Code of Audit Practice, appointed auditors are also required to comply with the current professional standards issued by the independent Auditing Practices Board. Appointed auditors act quite separately from the Commission and in meeting their statutory responsibilities are required to exercise their professional judgement independently of both the Commission and the audited body. Status of our reports The Statement of Responsibilities of Auditors and Audited Bodies issued by the Audit Commission explains the ...

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• Publié par: Shawyar
• Nombre de lectures: 35
• Langue: English

Extrait

Audit Summary Report

January 2007

Statement of Audit

Progress

South Staffordshire Council

Audit 2006-2007

© Audit Commission 2007

For further information on the work of the Commission please contact:

Audit Commission, 1st Floor, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4HQ

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Textphone (minicom): 020 7630 0421

www.audit-commission.gov.uk

External audit is an essential element in the process of accountability for public

money and makes an important contribution to the stewardship of public

resources and the corporate governance of public services.

Audit in the public sector is underpinned by three fundamental principles:

•

auditors are appointed independently from the bodies being audited;

•

the scope of auditors' work is extended to cover not only the audit of financial

statements but also value for money and the conduct of public business; and

•

auditors may report aspects of their work widely to the public and other key

stakeholders.

The duties and powers of auditors appointed by the Audit Commission are set out

in the Audit Commission Act 1998 and the Local Government Act 1999 and the

Commission's statutory Code of Audit Practice. Under the Code of Audit Practice,

appointed auditors are also required to comply with the current professional

standards issued by the independent Auditing Practices Board.

Appointed auditors act quite separately from the Commission and in meeting their

statutory responsibilities are required to exercise their professional judgement

independently of both the Commission and the audited body.

Status of our reports

The Statement of Responsibilities of Auditors and Audited Bodies issued by the

Audit Commission explains the respective responsibilities of auditors and of the

audited body. Reports prepared by appointed auditors are addressed to

non-executive directors/members or officers. They are prepared for the sole use

of the audited body. Auditors accept no responsibility to:

•

any director/member or officer in their individual capacity; or

•

any third party.

Copies of this report

If you require further copies of this report, or a copy in large print, in Braille,

on tape, or in a language other than English, please call 0845 056 0566.

Statement of Audit Progress

│

Contents

3

South Staffordshire Council

Contents

Introduction

4

Audit coverage and inputs

4

Work in progress

4

Appendix 1 – Audit Progress

5

2005/06 Programme - outputs due October to December 2006

5

2006/07 Audit Programme - progress to date

6

4

Statement of Audit Progress │ Audit Summary Report

South Staffordshire Council

Introduction

1

This report sets out our progress against the 2005/06 and 2006/07 audit plans.

Audit coverage and inputs

2

During the period October - December we have issued the following documents

to officers that we wish to bring to your attention.

•

Final Accounts Memorandum, which provides the more detailed findings from

our 2005/06 opinion work.

•

Unqualified certificates for the following grant claims:

-

2005/06 NNDR Return; and

-

2005/06 Disabled Facilities.

•

Our opinion on the 2006/07 Best Value Performance Plan.

•

Report on the 2006/07 Data Quality Review.

Work in progress

3

At this time we are working on the following pieces of work which will complete

the delivery of the 2005/06 Audit Plan.

•

The Annual Audit Letter 2005/06.

•

2005/06 Housing and Council Tax Benefits Claim. We are undertaking

extended testing on the claim due to the level of errors identified from our

initial samples.

4

We have also continued to progress work against our 2006/07 audit plan.

•

2006 Use of Resources Scores.

5

We continue to have regular updates with key staff and Internal Audit, and review

all risks associated with the Authority's business.

6

There are no other issues that we wish to bring to your attention.

Statement of Audit Progress

│

Appendix 1 – Audit Progress

5

South Staffordshire Council

Appendix 1 – Audit Progress

2005/06 Programme - outputs due October to December 2006

Programme

Progress

Main

conclusions/findings

Deadline for draft

report

Audit Committee

Meeting

Interim audit

memorandum

Completed - part of the

final accounts

memorandum

Our finding informed the

level of additional testing

required for the opinion.

April 2006

January 2007

Report to those charged

with governance (ISA

260)

Completed

An unqualified opinion

was given on the

financial statements.

September 2006

September 2006

Final accounts

memorandum

Completed

General improvement

from last year, however

there are still areas

where improvements can

be made.

December 2006

January 2007

Annual audit and

inspection letter

(including direction of

travel assessment)

Ongoing

This will be presented at

the June audit committee

February 2007

March 2007

6

Statement of Audit Progress

│

Appendix 1 – Audit Progress

South Staffordshire Council

2006/07 Audit Programme - progress to date

Programme

Progress

Main

conclusions/findings

Deadline for draft

report

Audit Committee

meeting

Audit and Inspection

Plan

Completed

Agreed by the Audit

Committee.

March 2006

August 2006

Interim Audit

Memorandum

Outstanding - work due

to start in February 2007

N/A

April 2007

June 2007

BV PP Opinion and PI

Audit Memorandum

Completed

Management

arrangements meet the

minimum requirements

and data quality

processes are

satisfactory.

December 2007

January 2007

Report to those charged

with governance (ISA

260)

Outstanding - work due

to commence in the

period July - September

N/A

September 2007

September 2007

Opinion on the Financial

Statements & VFM

conclusion

Outstanding - work due

to commence in the

period July - September

N/A

September 2007

September 2007

Final Accounts

Memorandum

Outstanding - work due

to commence in the

period July - September

N/A

October 2007

January 2008

Statement of Audit Progress

│

Appendix 1 – Audit Progress

7

South Staffordshire Council

Programme

Progress

Main

conclusions/findings

Deadline for draft

report

Audit Committee

meeting

Local performance work

Ongoing

N/A

TBA

TBA

Annual audit and

inspection letter

(including direction of

travel assessment)

Outstanding - dependent

on the completion of the

opinion and performance

work

N/A

December 2007

January 2008