Slough council leader grilled by opposition over damning audit reports
James Bagley. Local Democracy Reporter
03:12PM, Monday 24 May 2021 );
Tory councillor Wayne Strutton (left) and council leader James Swindlehurst
Slough s council leader faced a grilling from the opposition about the two damning audit reports at an extraordinary meeting.
Councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab, Cippenham Green), leader, was faced with tough questions from the opposing Conservatives and Independents following the highly critical papers of the local authority’s financial governance.
In the external auditor’s reports, Grant Thornton UK LLP found:
insufficient capacity and skills within the finance department
inadequate preparation of financial statements
at an extraordinary meeting. Councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), leader, was faced with tough questions from the opposing Conservatives and Independents following the highly critical papers of the local authority’s financial governance. In the external auditor’s reports, Grant Thornton UK LLP found:
insufficient capacity and skills within the finance department
inadequate preparation of financial statements
inadequate general and earmarked revenue reserves
inadequate governance, monitoring and controls over the council’s outside groups and companies At an extraordinary audit and corporate governance committee on Tuesday, May 18, the leader of the Conservatives, councillor Wayne Strutton (Haymill and Lynch Hill), heavily criticised the leader and asked him when he was made aware of the issues highlighted in the reports.
2018/19 accounts by January following multiple delays. External auditors at Grant Thornton faced a grilling from members of the audit and corporate governance committee on Thursday (December 10) as outstanding financial statements are still yet to be signed off. Julie Masci, engagement lead at Grant Thornton, said the 2018/19 audit is 95 per cent completed – but is still waiting for the updated final set of financial statements from a third-party company and a letter of assurance from the Berkshire pension fund. It was heard an extraordinary meeting will take place on January 27 to finally sign off the accounts – subject to them being ready. The chairman of the committee, councillor Waqas Sabah (Labour: Farnham), said he is “not satisfied” the accounts will be signed off by the new promised completion date as auditors missed multiple deadlines set by new timetables.