Directors’ report
The directors present their report and the audited financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Directors
For the year commencing 1 April 2023 the PSAA Board membership was as set out in the table below:
| Board members | Position | Date of appointment |
| Steve Freer | Chair | 1 October 2014 |
| Keith House | Non-executive director | 1 December 2017* |
| Marta Phillips | Non-executive director | 1 April 2021* |
| Fraser McKinlay | Non-executive director | 1 February 2022 |
| Mike O’Donnell | Non-executive director | 1 April 2022 |
Board succession
The Chair is appointed by the IDeA, and other non-executive directors are appointed by the Chair following interviews with a panel of Board members and the approval of the IDeA. The composition of the Board is intended to bring together a range of skills and experience relevant to the governance of the company and its distinctive role and sphere of business.
The Chair, Steve Freer, stepped down on 31 March 2024 following a ten-year term. A new Chair, Bill Butler was appointed from 1 April 2024 for a three-year term.
More information on the PSAA Board and individual directors is available on the PSAA website.
Register of interests
Board directors are required to notify and register any issues on which they might have a conflict of interest. Declarations of interest are also invited at the outset of each Board meeting. The register of directors’ interests is available on the PSAA website.
Statement of directors’ responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. The directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, including FRS 102, subject to any material departures disclosed in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The directors take seriously their duties under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole. The directors have satisfied themselves that consideration of its requirements, and the directors’ duties under it, have informed and guided their work throughout the year and have published on the PSAA website a Section 172 statement detailing how they have complied with this requirement.
Directors’ indemnity provision
As permitted by the Articles of Association, the directors have the benefit of an indemnity which is a qualifying third-party indemnity provision as defined by Section 234 of the Companies Act 2006. The indemnity was in force throughout the last financial year and is currently in force. The company also purchased and maintained throughout the financial year directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in respect of itself and its directors.
Future developments
Looking forward, there are a number of key developments on the horizon which will have a significant impact on the local audit landscape and the environment within which we operate:
- The Government has committed to providing an update in the Autumn on their plans for the longer-term plans to fix local audit. We will assess the impact of these proposals on audit fees and our contracts;
- We are awaiting the outcome of the NAO and MHCLG consultations which will shape the development of a backlog solution. We will work alongside other local audit sector stakeholders as the agreed proposal is implemented, and will assess the impact on PSAA, most significantly in the area of fee variations;
- During 2024 the FRC will move from operating in the role of shadow system leader for local authority financial reporting and audit to becoming system leader as the government proposal to establish a new regulator, the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA) is progressed. This development will have implications for local audit; and
- The Government is currently implementing of a new framework for public procurement through The Procurement Bill which received royal assent on 25 March, coming into effect from October 2024 (or with at least six months’ notice). PSAA’s work to comply with the new procurement regime is at an advanced stage so we are well prepared for the planned changes.
Whilst these sector developments take shape and evolve, in the next year, PSAA will:
- Continuously review our programme of activities to ensure we remain focused on the crucial issues as the changes to the local audit environment unfold and to ensure we provide the best possible service to our opted-in bodies. During 2024 we will begin the process to develop the Business Plan from 2025;
- Implement the recommendations from the review of how and where we work. This project has made a number of recommendations for sustainable long-term working arrangements around the themes of well-being and staff culture, working relationships and ensuring that business needs continue to be met;
- Both undertake and actively contribute to relevant research and projects, including annual fees-related research and analysis to inform the development of the fee strategy, and in support of projects commissioned by the shadow systems leader that seek to address the challenges faced by the local audit system. We will test the market to identify if a market/supply base exists for local auditor fees researchers;
- Set the 2024/25 annual fee strategy and consult on the fee scale for the second year under the new audit services contract by 30 November 2024; and
- Consider options for the third appointing period, which will include exploring whether to extend the contracts for up to two years.
Going concern
In June 2016 PSAA was specified by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government as an appointing person for relevant principal local government bodies under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. In May 2021 DLUHC confirmed that PSAA would remain the appointing person responsible for the 2022 procurement. In that context it is appropriate to prepare PSAA’s accounts on a going concern basis
Subsequent events
There have been no other events affecting the company or the information provided in this annual report and accounts since the year end.
Disclosure of information to auditors
For each of the directors at the time this report was approved, the following applies:
- as far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware; and
- the directors have taken all steps they ought to have taken as directors to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.
Independent auditors
A resolution to appoint MHA LLP as auditors for the company for three years 2022/23 to 2024/25 was approved by the Board on 24 October 2022.
By order of the Board
Bill Butler
Chair
09 August 2024