Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Amos, Councillor D Roberts and Mr R Williams Lay Member.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No Declarations of Interest were made.

To receive the report of Audit Wales

The Chair welcomed Helen Goddard, Neall Hollis and Sara-Jane Byrne of Audit Wales to the Meeting.

Neall Hollis then referred the Committee to the ‘Certification of Grants and Returns 2020-21 – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’ report and responded to the following questions raised:

·         Conclusion – ‘Adequate arrangements in place’ – Is there scope for further improvement – Is there a specific area and is there any action the Authority needs to take

·         War Disablement Pension Rates – How many are there – Is this a high number

·         Late submission of Certified Claims – Is this other Councils or agencies such as DWP

The Chair then thanked Neall Hollis for the update to the Committee.

To receive the report of Audit Wales

Helen Goddard, Neall Hollis and Sara-Jane Byrne referred in detail to the Wales Audit ‘2022 Audit Plan – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’ report and responded to the following question raised:

·         Thematic Review – Unscheduled Care – When will this work start and how long will it take

The Chair then thanked Wales Audit for the update to the Committee.

To consider the update of Fleet and Highways Officers

Helen Harbord referred the Committee to the ‘Update from Fleet and Highways Services on the Recommendations made in the Vehicles Fuel System Report 2021/22’ report.

Darren Chaffe and Ioan Vantu then led the Members through the report and responded in detail to the following questions raised:

Management Action Plan

·         1.2 – Further details requested on Energy Monitoring Equipment and other ways to monitor

·         2.1 – Further details requested on location of Vehicles

·         3.6 – Where was the lack of staff resources

·         3.7 – Are Budget holders/Managers checking on a regular basis

Resolved that:

The update provided by Engineering and Highways Services be considered.

The Chair thanked the Officers for attending and the update to the Committee.

To consider the report of the Head of Regional Internal Audit Service

Mark Thomas led the Committee through the ‘Draft Anti-Money Laundering Policy and Draft Anti-Tax Evasion Policy’ report.

Resolved that:

(a)  The draft Anti-Money Laundering Policy and the draft Anti-Tax Evasion Policy be noted

(b)  The draft Anti-Money Laundering Policy and the Draft Anti-Tax Evasion Policy be discussed prior to submission to Council for approval.

To receive copies of published Internal Audit reports for Members information

Mark Thomas referred to the Issued Internal Audit Reports and updated the Committee on the reports as listed in Table 1 of the report.

No requests were received from the Committee for Call in of the reports listed in the report.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the Committee reflected in detail on the matters that has been discussed at the Meeting.

Appointments

Lay Members

The Chair advised that the new Governance and Audit Committee would have three Lay Members and that alongside Mr Robert Williams, Mr Martin Veale and Mrs Sue Erikson had been appointed as the Lay Members on the new Committee.

Assistant Audit Manager

The Chair congratulated Helen Harbord on her appointment as Assistant Audit Manager

Last Meeting

The Chair advised that this was his last Meeting as Chair of the Committee and he thanked all the Audit Wales Staff, Committee and Cabinet Portfolio Members and the Internal Audit staff for their work over the years.

Thanks were also conveyed to the Chair for his work with the Committee.