The Director of Finance provided details of the proposed Audit Commission fees for 2009/10, which had been agreed by the Audit and Risk Management Committee on 29 June 2009 (minute 12 refers). The fee proposed for 2009/10 was 13% above the scale fee for Wirral Council, but had been reduced by 4.1% due to reductions in respect of better quality assurance of information that was presented for audit and a stronger control environment reflected in the higher Use of Resources scores. Members questioned the level of fee and in particular, the factors that placed the Council towards high risk in terms of ‘audit risk’.

Resolved – That the audit fees for 2009/10 be noted.