Issue - meetings

Report of Grant Thornton.

Paul Dossett, Grant Thornton, introduced the external audit update. In response to a request from the Committee, it was agreed that written responses to the ‘challenge questions’ set out in the report would be provided to the Committee, and that the benchmarking pack, as mentioned at the bottom of page 11 of the report, would also be provided to the Council.

In response to a question regarding the transfer of assets to academy schools, it was confirmed that, while there was a potential risk relating to PFI arrangements leading to a shortfall in funding, this had not been identified as an issue affecting Haringey. The Committee asked about the cost to the Council arising from the establishment of ‘forced academies’, with regard to revenue deficits; it was reported that this depended on whether the academy was sponsored or not, but it was confirmed that this would be a DSG cost.

RESOLVED

That the content of the report be noted.