Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies and to be notified of the attendance of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R P Bullock and W Mee.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2025 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive the Audit Strategy Memorandum from the Council’s external auditors and to note progress made with the 2024/25 audit.

The Committee noted the Audit Strategy Memorandum for the 2024/25 audit of accounts and were informed of the progress made by the Council’s appointed external auditors, Forvis Mazars. It was stated that the objective was to fully deliver the Audit for the year in accordance with the plan contained within the document.

To inform the Committee of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and to seek approval for the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts for 2024/25.

Members were informed of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and noted compliance with the Code on Delivering Good Governance to make any further amendments deemed necessary.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 required Authorities to conduct a review, at least once in each financial year, of the effectiveness of its system of internal control and this statement would be included within the statement of accounts.

Local Authorities were under a statutory obligation to follow the published approach using the CIPFA/SOLACE document, Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework. There were seven core principles to follow. A summary of how the Council met each of the seven core principles, including evidence, and where improvement action or steps had been taken in 2024/25 was provided.

It was agreed to include the group leaders should be consulted in addition to the Chair of the Committee if any amendments to the document were necessary.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The Annual Governance Statement be approved in principle for inclusion in the Council’s Statement of Accounts.

2.     Responsibility be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee and the group leaders, to make any further amendments as necessary.

To inform the Committee of the recent work completed by Internal Audit.

The Committee was informed of the recent work completed by Internal Audit and noted the appendices within the report. Reassurance was sought with regards to stocktakes at the Depot Stores and the risks around fraud.

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the work programme.

          RESOLVED that the Work Programme be approved.