Decision - Audited Statement of Accounts 2022/23

That the Audit & Standards Committee: 1) Notes the findings of the external auditor Grant Thornton as set out in their audit findings report (a separate item on this agenda). 2) Notes the results of the public inspection of the accounts (paragraph 5). 3) Approves the Letter of Representation on behalf of the council (Appendix 1). 4) Approves the audited Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 (Appendix 3) subject to the auditor finding no material misstatements in the conclusion of the audit 5) Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer for any final wording or immaterial adjustments to the accounts prior to publication.

The Council confirmed to Grant Thornton UK LLP that it had fulfilled its responsibilities for preparing the 2022/23 financial statements and had disclosed all relevant information, risks, fraud matters, litigation and related-party transactions. The approval of the representation letter was minuted by the Audit & Standards Committee on 26 September 2023.