HBC 24-25 Letter of Representation Draft

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This is a letter from Hastings Borough Council to its external auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP, confirming matters relevant to the audit of the council's and its subsidiary's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. p3

The letter notes that national regulations set a publication backstop date of 27 February 2026 for the 2024-25 financial statements, and that it was not possible to provide auditors all the information needed by that date relating to £194.110 million of property, plant and equipment and the council's closing reserves balance of £166.828 million. p23

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• p324th February 2026 Dear Grant Thornton UK LLP Hastings Borough Council Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 This representation letter is provided in connection with the audit of the financial statements of Hastings Borough Council (“the Authority”) and its subsidiary undertaking (“the group”) as shown in Appendix I to this letter, for the year ended 31 March 2025 for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to whether the group and Authority financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the CIPFA/LASAAC Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2024-25 and applicable law. We confirm that to the best of our knowledge and belief having made such inquiries as we considered necessary for the purpose of appropriately informing ourselves:
• p23xxvi. On 30 September 2024 Parliament approved the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2024. These regulations set a publication date for financial statements in respect of 2024-25 of 27 February 2026. The new National Audit Office Code of Audit Practice, which was published on 14 November 2024, also requires that where auditors are unable to conclude their work, they should issue either a qualified audit opinion or a disclaimer of opinion by this date, known as the ‘backstop date’. It has not been possible to provide you with all the information required for you to complete your audit for the year ending 31 March 2025 by the backstop date in relation to property, plant and equipment of £194.110 million (Authority and Group) and the Authority’s and Group’s closing reserves balance of £166.828 million (Authority) and £166.859 million (Group). Annual Governance Statement xxvii. We are satisfied that the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) fairly reflects the group and Authority's risk assurance and governance framework and we confirm that we are not aware of any significant risks that are not disclosed within the AGS.