Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Davies, Councillor C Jones and S Eriksen 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

Councillor A Barry Cabinet Member advised that in relation to Item 5 – Quarterly Update on Corporate Risks Quarter 3 2022/2023 if any questions were raised on Appendix 2 – Home to School Transport he would Declare his Interest and leave the Meeting.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 16 January 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Mark Thomas Head of Regional Internal Audit Services led the Committee through the Action Log and updated the Committee.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor A Barry referred the Committee to the Quarterly Update on Corporate Risks Quarter 3 2022/2023’ report.

The following question was then raised on the report and responded to in detail by the Officers:

·        Roles and Responsibilities – The review of Risks spread across the Scrutiny Committees – Could a further column be added to indicate under which Scrutiny Committee the Risk was under

The Chair then thanked Councillor A Barry and the Officers for the update to the Committee.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor A Barry referred the Committee to the ‘Rolling Programme – Corporate Risk update from Corporate Management Team (CMT) Members: Capacity’ report.

The following questions were then raised by the Committee on the report and were responded toin detail by the Officers:

·        Capacity – Recruitment – What might happen or what is here and now  Clarification sought regarding an aging workforce and experienced staff – Are there succession plans in place

·        Further details requested in relation to the progression framework for Apprentices – What is being done regarding moving up in the Organisation – Are there any ‘good news’ stories – Situation in relation to Social Services – What opportunities are there in Social Services

·        What is an acceptable level of Risk

·        Paragraph 5.1 – Capacity 2 - Actions required to manage the Risk – Helpful to have further detail on the bullet points in the report – What are the long term actions

The Chair then thanked Councillor A Barry and the Officers for the update to the Committee.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor A Barry referred the Committee to the ‘Corporate Self Assessment’ report’.

The following question was then raised on the report and was responded to in detail by the Officers:

·        Explanation requested on the process for the report

The Chair then thanked Councillor A Barry and the Officers for the update to the Committee.

To receive the report of the Audit Wales

The Chair welcomed I Phillips and N Hollis Audit Wales to the Meeting.

Ian Phillips then led the Committee through the ‘Audit Wales Work Programme and Timetable – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council – Quarterly Update – 31 December 2022’ report.

The following questions were then raised on the report and were responded to by Audit Wales:

·        Work Programme Timetable – Likely timescale in relation to Accounts

·        Performance Audit Work – Assurance and Risk Assessment and Thematic Review – Digital – Request for extra detail on these

The Chair then thanked Audit Wales for the update.

To receive the report of the Audit Wales

Ian Phillips led the Committee through the ‘Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Annual Audit Summary 2022’ and Audit Wales responded in detail to the following questions raised:

·        Request that in relation to ‘No changes’ that a figure be provided

·        Added value – Is this useful/helpful to Officers

·        Comparison of Reserves in relation to other Authorities

·        Is there a type of Action Log for planned work with RAG Status – Useful to have more regular updates e.g every quarter

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

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

Lisa Cumpston Audit Manager Regional Internal Audit Service led the Committee through the ‘Internal Audit Recommendations 2022/23’ report.

The Chair then thanked Lisa Cumpston for the update to the Committee.

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

Lisa Cumpston Audit Manager Regional Internal Audit Service led the Committee through the ‘Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Programme 2022/23’ report.

The Chair then thanked Lisa Cumpston for the update to the Committee.

To receive copies of published Internal Audit reports for Members information

Lisa Cumpston Audit Manager Regional Internal Audit Service led the Committee through the Issued Internal Audit Reports.

The Chair referred to the issued Internal Audit Reports and advised that if the Committee wished to raise any issue to e-mail and that the items could then be brought to a future Meeting.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the Committee reflected on the matters that had been considered at the Meeting.

Retirement of Head of Regional Internal Audit Service

The Chair advised that this was the last Committee Meeting for Mark Thomas and thanked Mark Thomas on behalf of the Committee for his service, help and support.

Mark Thomas then thanked the Committee for their good wishes and advised that his replacement had been appointed.

The Chair also advised that interviews were due to be held in relation to the Lay-Member vacancy.

In order for the following to be considered in private, it is suggested that the public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 18, 18 a under Part 4 of Schedule 12A Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved that:

The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 18 and 18a under Part 4 of Schedule 12A Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive the report of the Chief Finance Officer

The Chair welcomed Ryan James and Richard Evans to the Meeting.

Ian Phillips and Ryan James then led the Committee through the ‘Learning from Cyber Attacks’ report and together with Officers responded in detail to questions raised on the report.

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