Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED

that Councillor Sarah Madigan be appointed as Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 September 2024, be received and approved as a correct record.

Ellie West presented the Audit progress report for Mazars and advised

that work was progressing well and officers were currently at the field work stage of the review.  It was hoped that the audit would be completed by the end of January 2025.

RESOLVED

that the Audit progress report, as submitted, be received and duly noted.

The Council’s Corporate Resources Director and Section 151 Officer presented the Treasury Management mid year report and advised that there

had been some changes to the prudential indicators following in year changes

to the 2023/24 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED that

a)    changes to the 2024/25 Prudential Indicators following in year changes to the 2024/25 Capital Programme, be approved;

b)    the content of the report, as presented, be received and noted.

Committee was asked to consider the appointment of an Independent Member to the Audit Committee and if agreed, to confirm the outline recruitment process and role description as presented.

RESOLVED that

a)    approval be given to undertake a recruitment process to appoint an Independent Member to the Audit Committee;

b)    the outline recruitment process and role description, as outlined in the report, be approved with delegated authority being granted to the Executive Director, Governance (Monitoring Officer) to finalise arrangements in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee or his nominee.

The Executive Director for Governance (and Monitoring Officer) presented the report and asked the Audit Committee to review and approve the amended Local Code of Corporate Governance, as appended to the report.

RESOLVED

that the minor amendments to the Local Code of Corporate Governance, as

highlighted in Appendix 1 and detailed in the report, be approved.

Members were requested to consider and approve the revised Prosecution Policy, as presented.

RESOLVED

that approval be given to the minor changes to the Prosecution Policy in accordance with the draft document attached to the report at Appendix 1.

Mandy Marples, CMAP’s Audit Manager, presented the report and

summarised audit progress as at 28 November 2024.

One piece of work had been finalised since the last update in respect of Health & Safety – Damp & Mould and a summary of the outcome and recommendations were conveyed to Members. An overview of the current position regarding recommendation tracking and subsequent actions was also outlined to the Committee.

RESOLVED

that audit assignment progress and recommendation tracking as at 28 November 2024, 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 Council’s Corporate Resources Director and Section 151 Officer gave Members an update regarding performance and monitoring of the Council’s

Investment Property portfolio as at 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED

that performance in relation to the Council’s Investment Property portfolio as at 30 September 2024, as presented, be received and noted.