The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development
Year ended 31 July 2023
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Internalional Centre for Local and Regional
Development (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 July 2023 which comprise the statement of financial
activities (including income and expenditure account). statement of financial position and the related
notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that
has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards,
including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements..
give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 July 2023 and of its incoming
resources and application of resources. including its income and expenditure, for the year then
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted
Accounting Practice.,
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK}) and
applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor's
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of
the charity in accordance with the elhical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial
statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees, use of the going concem
basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to
events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability
to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial
statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described
in the relevant sections of this report.
22

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development (Gontinued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial
statements and our auditorfs report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and. except to the extent
otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any fomi of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements. our responsibility is to read the other
information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the
financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially
misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are
required to determine whether there is a malerial misstatement in the financial statements or a
material misstatement of the other information. If. based on the work we have perfomied, we conclude
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
the information given in the trustees. report for the financial year for which the financial
statements are prepare(J is consistent with the financial statements- and
the trustees, report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In Ihe light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the
course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees, report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act
2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not
been received from branches not visited by us., or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns-, or
certain disclosures of trustees. remuneration specified by law are not made- Of
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
23

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development (continued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilities statement, the trustees {who are also the
directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as
the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concem and using the
going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease
operations. or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
24

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development (continued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether Ihe financial statements as a whole
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that
includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance. but is not a guarantee that
an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on
the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities. including fraud. are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design
procedures in line with our responsibilities. outlined above. to detect material misstatements in respect
of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting
irregularities. including fraud is detailed below:
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities. including fraud
and non-compliance with laws and regulations. we considered the following:
the nature of the industry and seclor, control environment and business performance including the
design of the remuneration policies. key drivers for directors, remuneration. bonus levels and
performance targets",
results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks
of irregularities:
any matters we identFfied having obtained and reviewed documentstion of their policies and
procedures relaling to-.
identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether management were
aware of any instances of non-compliance.,
detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether management have knowledge of any
actual. suspected or alleged fraud-,
the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and
regulations.
the matters discussed among the audit engagement team including significant component audit
teams and relevant internal specialists, including tax and valuations specialists regarding how and
where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within
the oiganisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fiaud. In common with all audits
under ISAS {UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of
management override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks in operation, focusing on
provisions of those laws and regulations that had a d1￿ct effect on the determination of material
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in
this context included ongoing compliance with the UK Companies Act and tax legislation.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effeGt on
the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental for their ability to operate or to
avoid a material penalty.
25

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development (continued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAS (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain
professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also..
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
fraud or e￿or, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit
evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not
detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error,
as fraud may involve collusion. forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override
of internal control.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an
opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting
estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees, use of the going concem basis of accounting
and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to
events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going
concern. If we conclude Ihat a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in
our auditor's report to the related disclosures in Ihe financial statements or. if such disclosures
are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained
up to the date of our auditor's report. However. future events or conditions may cause the charity
to cease lo continue as a going concem.
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements. including the
disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and
events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among olher matters, the planned
scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings. inGluding any significant deficiencies in
internal control that we identify during our audit.
26

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The International Centre for
Local and Regional Development (conlinued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor
As explained more fully in the Directors. Responsibilities Statement, the directors are responsible for
the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.
Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with
applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK). Those standards require us to comply
with the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC'S) Ethical Standard for Auditors,, in the circumstsnces set
out in note 2 to the financial statements.
Usè of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part
16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the
charity's members those matters we are required to slate to them in an auditor's report and for no
other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to
anyone other than the charity and the charity's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report.
or for the opinions we have formed.
Conor Dolan FCA {Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of
Finegan Gibson Ltd
Chartered accountants & statutory auditor
Causeway Tower
9 James Street South
Belfast
BT2 8DN
22 April 2024
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