Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2023, be received and approved as a correct record.

The Corporate Resources Director and Section 151 Officer presented the report on behalf of Mazars and advised that no weaknesses had been identified for 2022/23 in respect of the Council’s financial sustainability, governance and measures for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

Members were asked to note that due to the facilitation of some additional works during the audit period, there had been a £3,703 increase in fees from the previous year.

RESOLVED

that the Audit Completion report for 2022/23, as presented to Committee, be duly received and noted.

The Corporate Resources Director and Section 151 Officer presented the report providing information on the Council’s treasury management activities over the previous year including an explanation as to how the timetable of reporting to Committee was achieved. 

Members considered performance during 2022/23 against the prudential

indicators approved by Council on 3 March 2022, as part of the Treasury

Management Strategy.

RESOLVED

that the 2022/23 Treasury Management performance, as set against approved prudential indicators outlined in the report, be received and noted.

Mandy Marples, CMAP’s Audit Manager, presented the Internal Audit Annual Report for 2022/23 and reminded Committee that CMAP had recently undergone a 5-year Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) assessment determining that the organisation had generally conformed with

each standard and remained fit for purpose.

In respect of the Council’s Audit Opinion for 2022-23 based on the work undertaken during the year, an overall conclusion/opinion had been reached that there was currently a Satisfactory System of Governance, Risk and Internal Control at the Council. Findings had indicated that on the whole, arrangements were satisfactory and Members considered and acknowledged the range of audit work/coverage for the year.

RESOLVED

that the Internal Audit Annual Report for 2022/23 including the supporting

Internal Audit Opinion, be received and noted.

Mandy Marples, CMAP’s Audit Manager, presented the report and summarised audit progress as at 10 July 2023. There had been changes made to the Audit Plan following a request from the Executive Director for Governance for two additional reviews to be undertaken in respect of Audit Committee Effectiveness and the Member Code of Conduct and the Officer/Member Protocol.

Eight pieces of work had been finalised during that time and a synopsis of each of the completed reviews were presented regarding the following:

Anti-fraud & Corruption

Biodiversity Net Gain

Leisure Centres 2022-23

Section 106 Agreements 2022-23

Estates 2022-23

Future High Street Fund & Towns Fund

Audit Committee Effectiveness

General Ledger – Data Analytics.

RESOLVED

that audit assignment progress as at 10 July 2023, as presented to Committee, be received and noted.

A Member of the Committee is asked to move:-

“That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and in respect of which the Proper Officer considers the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

RESOLVED

that in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and in respect of which the Proper Officer considers the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Corporate Resources Director and Section 151 Officer gave Members an update regarding performance and monitoring of the Council’s Commercial and Investment Property Portfolio for 2022/23.

RESOLVED

that performance in relation to the Council’s Commercial and Investment Property Portfolio for 2022/23, as presented, be received and noted.