Auditors have warned councillors further findings could be found in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 accounts
FLAWS found in Slough Council’s financial governance in 2018/19 accounts could be the tip of the iceberg, warn auditors. Councillors met at an annual full council meeting on Thursday, May 20, to discuss the external auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, two damning reports on the council’s financial governance. In their highly critical reports, they found the council had insufficient capacity and skills within the finance department, inadequate preparation of financial statements, inadequate general and earmarked revenue reserves, and inadequate governance, monitoring, and controls over outside groups and companies.
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.