Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on Thursday, 28 September 2023.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

To receive any Declarations of Interest.

To consider a report of the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) detailing –

1.    Progress made by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) in delivering the Council’s annual audit plan for 2023/24 as at 17 November 2023;

2.    Proposed amendments to the approved 2023/24 Annual Audit Plan;

3.    Implementation status of all previously agreed audit recommendations from 2019/20 onwards; and

4.    An update on performance management information as at 17 November 2023.

The report recommends that the Committee:

1.    Note the Internal Audit Progress Report for the period to 17 November 2023;

2.    Approve amendments to the Audit Plan as at 17 November 2023; and

3.    Agree changes to the implementation date for 3 Audit Recommendations (Paragraph 2.5) for the reason set out in Appendices 3 to 7.

To consider the Treasury Management Mid-Year report by the Director of Finance which prepared in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management and covering performance against the Council’s Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Policy. 

The report is presented to the Audit Committee as the body delegated by Council to undertake the role of scrutiny of Treasury Management strategy and policies.  

To consider a report of the Director of Finance inviting comments on the Draft Capital Investment Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy Statement over the Medium Term (2024/25 To 2026/27).

To consider a report of the Head of Finance recommending that the Audit Committee note the progress and latest timetable for completion of the External Audit of the Statement of Accounts for 2019/20 onwards.

Verbal update by the Council’s External Auditors

The Committee to consider the Draft External Audit Plan 2023/24 prepared by The Council’s External Auditors, Azets.

To consider a report of the Head of Finance recommending that the Committee review the Risk Register and make any comments it wishes to make against individual risks.

To consider a report by the Head of Finance recommending that the Committee consider and make any changes necessary to its Work Programme

Any other Items of Business approved under Item 3 of the Agenda.

If the Committee wishes to consider the remaining item(s) in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the following terms: -

“That, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it/they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Note:  If other confidential business is approved under item 3, it will also be necessary to specify the class of exempt or confidential information in the additional items.