Agenda and minutes

Resolved that:  

Martin Veale be appointed as Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee. 

Resolved that:  

Colin Prosser be appointed as Vice Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Roberts and Councillor B Carter.

Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor A Barry Cabinet Member andChief Finance Officer Liam Hull.

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. 

The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 15April 2024 were accepted as a correct record. 

Helen Harbord referred to the Action Log and notified the Committee that three new actions had been included.

To receive the report of the Audit Wales

Sara-Jane Byrne (Audit Wales) introduced the item and highlighted the salient points within the report.

The Chair asked for an update on the audit of the Council’s accounts for 2023/24.

The Chair then thanked the Officers for their responses.

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

Andrew Wathan introduced the item and highlighted the salient points within the report.

The following questions were raised by the committee and were responded to in detail by the Officers present:

·         Does the agreement of the other two authorities matter to us or is it for us to formally approve?  

The Chair thanked the Officers for the report and their responses to the questions raised.

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

Andrew Wathan introduced the item and highlighted the salient points within the report.

The following questions were raised by the committee and were responded to in detail by the officers present:

·         Could the list change?  

·         IT Strategy – will there be something that compliments or challenges that process?

Resolved that:

The Committee consider and approve the draft Internal Audit Strategy (Appendix A) and draft Annual Risk Based Audit Plan for 2024-25 (Appendix B).

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

Andrew Wathan introduced the item and highlighted the salient points within the report.

The following questions were raised by the committee and were responded to in detail by the officers present:

·         Regarding 3.6, what are the known threats to school transport?  

·         Do you know how many local authorities get a substantial overall assurance report? 

·         Regarding Section 6, how can you get that number higher?

The Chair referred the Committee to 3.4 and requested that an appropriate officer attend the next committee.

Councillor Claire Jones left the meeting.

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

Helen Harbord led the Committee through the ‘Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Programme 2024/25’ report.

Resolved that:

That Members approve the Forward Work Programme for 2024/25.

To receive copies of published Internal Audit reports for Members information

Helen Harbord led the Committee through the Internal Audit Information Reports.

·         Regarding the responsible officers that have been allocated, did you have any difficulties when following up?

The Chair referred to the Temporary Housing report and was pleased to see reasonable assurance in the follow up. 

To receive an update on the Security and Access to Council Buildings audit recommendations

Helen Harbord provided an update on the progress made in relation to the recommendations made in the Security & Access to Council Buildings Audit report.

The Chair requested that this be kept on the agenda and asked for a written update on the recommendations for the next meeting.

The Chair then thanked Helen Harbord for the update.

To receive an update from the Chair

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

The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.