Auditors set out clean bill of health on Barnsley Council’s finances

External auditors have given Barnsley Council a financial clean bill of health in a detailed report to a Full Council meeting at the Town Hall.  

Auditors at Grant Thornton have conducted their annual audit of Barnsley Council's accounts and said the council should be ‘proud’ of the strong and positive report on its financial management.  

Michael Green, Director at Grant Thornton, told councillors the council’s accounts were published in line with the national timetable and produced to a very good standard.  

He said only a small number of audit adjustments were identified and that these were largely ‘technical or reclassification’ issues and had no impact on the useable reserves of the council or impact on spending power.  

He told councillors: “That’s a good achievement in terms of the outcome of the audit and puts you amongst the better audit clients that we serve. 

"In addition to the council’s financial statements audit, we do look at arrangements the council has in place to deliver value for money, in how it’s run and delivers its services to the wider public. We look at three core areas, financial sustainability, governance and improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness.  

“It’s a positive report, we haven’t identified any significant weaknesses in arrangements. The council should be really proud of that. In fact, I’ve said it’s a positive report, it’s an excellent report.  

“Barnsley as a council does have the same challenges as many other councils across the sector, pressures on adults and children’s social care, schools’ budgets, dedicated schools grant, but you are managing those extremely well.  

“Certainly in terms of financial sustainability, we see huge challenges across the sector, many significant weaknesses where we’re required to use further audit powers such as statutory recommendations, that’s becoming increasingly common across the sector, but in Barnsley we don’t feel we don’t need to exercise any of those powers, and you’re delivering a really strong response to all of those areas.  

“Those challenges are there, they won’t go away easily, what you’re doing to approach them in a sustainable manner, but you need to keep a real focus on those areas.  

“We did raise some minor improvement recommendations within our report, they’re made where we’re essentially concluding that what you’re doing is fine, there are no concerns, but there are opportunities to do things even better. 

"The council should really be proud of what we’ve reflected back to you today.”  

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, thanked Mr Green and Grant Thornton for their report. “It’s very pleasing that the auditors found no adjustments affecting the council’s position or useful reserves, which reflects our strong financial management and robust controls. The report also confirms Barnsley Council has effective arrangements in place to secure value for money, demonstrating our commitment to efficiency and good governance.”