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At the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee, held on 5 December, Councillors approved the Council’s financial audits for the periods 2021/22 & 2022/23.

The Council’s external auditors, Deloittes LLP, presented their report and audit findings for consideration by the Committee, with the Council’s Chief Financial Officer and Section 151 Officer, Ben Cookson, explaining the national situation with regards to the backlog of local authority audits.

Due to a national audit backlog, the Government has set several 'backstop' dates that auditors and local authorities must meet to clear the backlog. The first of these dates is December 13, 2024, for accounts up to 2022/23. We are pleased to announce that the two audits presented and approved by the Committee have met this deadline.

Cllr Wendy Stamp Chair of Performance Governance and Audit “It is unfortunate that there has been a delay in approving these, but this is as a result of legislative limitations rather than any identified inaccuracies or concerns about the authority's ability to continue as a going concern.

“I would particularly like to thank Mr Cookson our Chief Financial Officer, S151 Officer and all of his finance team, who have worked exceptionally hard with our external auditors, to ensure that these audits were completed and could be approved in line with the Government’s target date of 13th December”.

Cllr Richard Siddall, Leader of Maldon District Council, said; "I am delighted that the auditors have confirmed there are no known or material issues in our financial statements. This highlights the Council's robust financial management practices and commitment to transparent reporting."