Agenda item

8.1

Tim Cutler, Partner, KPMG, introduced the Annual Report on Grants and Returns 2015/16 which summarised the results of work KPMG had carried out on the Council’s 2015/16 grant claims and returns.

8.2

Mr Cutler reported that there had only been one claim certified as part of the PSAA regime in relation to Housing Subsidy which had a value of £195.8 million. A qualification letter was sent to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) along with the certified claim as there were a small number of errors found as part of the testing. None of the errors were individually or collectively significant, but due to the large number of individual payments in each category, it was not possible to calculate the true value of each error within the total claim. As such, the assurance was qualified to DWP on this basis. Some recommendations had been raised, therefore, in relation to these errors, to improve the process for preparing the claim in future years.

8.3

Under separate assurance engagements, three returns had been certified in relation to Pooling Capital Receipts, Teachers’ Pension Return and SFA Subcontracting Arrangements.

8.4

Resolved: That the Committee notes the Annual Report on Grants and Returns 2015/16.