Purpose

The Council is required to procure a reporting accountant to undertake an audit of the subsidy claim made to the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) for Housing Benefit granted. This contract is for a reporting accountant to perform the audit in accordance with the Housing Benefit (subsidy) Assurance Process (HBAP) modules for our subsidy claim for 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23, with an option for a further 12 month extension to cover the requirements of the HBAP modules for the subsidy claim for the 2023/2024 financial year.

Decision

1.    
Authority to use an Exemption as detailed below;

 

2.    
Authority to award the contract to Ernst Young
for the HBAP Assurance Process for the period 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 with
the possibility of a further year 2023/24

 

3.    
Authority to enter into any necessary agreements
with the Contractor