Agenda

Please note this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method.  Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the ‘meeting room’, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual, or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

To receive any apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with under item 7 below).

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i)            must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii)          may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, section B, Paragraph 29 of the Council’s Constitution.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on 3 December 2024 and 27 January 2025 as a correct record.

To review the Action Tracker.

This paper is to update the Committee on progress against the recommendations of the 2022 Commercial Property Audit which provided Nil Assurance and the subsequent 2023 Commercial Property Audit which provided Limited Assurance. 

Andrew Meek and Sarah Lavery to present.

This report provides an update to the Audit Committee on the Council’s treasury management activities and performance quarters ending 31^st December 2024, in accordance with the CIPFA Code.

Sam Masters and Josephine Lyseight to present.

To provide the amended statement relating to the 2023/24 financial year for noting.

Vanesa Bateman to present.

The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the annual internal audit plan as part of its Terms of Reference.

Minesh Jani to present.

This report details the work undertaken by Internal Audit for the period 1 November 2024 to 31 January 2025 and focuses on progress on internal audit coverage relative to the approved internal audit plan, including the number of audit reports issued and finalised – work undertaken by the external provider (Forvis Mazars).

Minesh Jani to present.

This report details the work undertaken by the in-house resources in the Audit and Risk team and communicates a third quarter update on completion of the work plan for 2024/25.

Vanessa Bateman to present.

The Audit Committee is responsible for providing assurance about the adequacy of the Council’s Risk Management Framework and Policy and monitoring the effectiveness of systems for the management of risk across the Council and compliance with them as part of its Terms of Reference.

MineshJani to present.

The Audit Committee is responsible for Anti-fraud and Corruption arrangements as part of its Terms of Reference.   In October 2024 the Anti-fraud, Corruption and Bribery policy was approved.   At that time, this appendix had not been updated but the work is now complete and updated policy ready for approval.

Vanessa Bateman to present.

This report provides an update on this specific request above but also a fuller update on progress with all internal audit recommendations relating to strategic procurement, progress with the implementation of the Procurement Modernisation Plan and current position with the implementation of the changes to ensure compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 which came effective on 24 February 2025.

Barry Phelps and Taryn Eves to present.