“1) I see in all your 2024 meeting minutes that you have raised concerns to your auditor about their work. What information do you have to support making a complaint about PKF Littlejohn, your external auditor? 2) I see question 1 in your accounting governance statement dated16/5/2023 was answered NO, which means you admit you did not have effective financial management last year. What information do you have that explains this NO answer? 3) Why was the March 2024 Council meeting cancelled?”
“12. The request in this case is for information about a complaint the complainant believes the Council submitted to its auditors. In its initial response, the Council stated it had not questioned the auditors, but rather the validity of the objections raised by a member of the public to the accounts. 13. In requesting an internal review, the complainant argued this was tantamount to questioning its auditors. In responding, Potto Parish Council maintained its position and referred to the meeting minutes in support of it. It also re-confirmed it had made no complaint to its auditors. 14. In the course of his investigation, the Commissioner asked the Council for further context around the request and a copy of the meeting minutes referred to in its response. The Council provided this, highlighting an excerpt from January in which the Council noted a member of the public raised objections to the Council’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR), as follows: “… the objections from a single member of the public have been reviewed by the external auditor and they are considering four of the objections from the member of the public, which may result in additional charges being levied on the parish Council. The Parish Council have raised concerns with the auditor regarding the validity of these objections. The Chairman discussed the proposed response to PKF Littlejohn regarding the four objections, the response was unanimously agreed.” 15. The Council confirmed to the Commissioner it has not raised a complaint against its auditors and has no reason to do so. It noted the Council faces additional charges for investigation of any concerns over the AGAR, and raised their concerns about the objections for this reason. 16. The Commissioner notes the Council has provided full detailed explanations and documentation of its audits and does not seem to have any reason to raise a complaint about PKF Littlejohn. He also notes the only evidence of any kind of disagreement about the audit comes specifically from a member of the public as mentioned in the meeting minutes. There is no further evidence to suggest a dispute.”. “… the objections from a single member of the public have been reviewed by the external auditor and they are considering four of the objections from the member of the public, which may result in additional charges being levied on the parish Council. The Parish Council have raised concerns with the auditor regarding the validity of these objections. The Chairman discussed the proposed response to PKF Littlejohn regarding the four objections, the response was unanimously agreed.”
“(1) … a public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.”