Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J Kaufman.

Councillor P Joshi attended the meeting remotely.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 26 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Substitution Procedure Rules.

Councillor S S Athwal substituted for Councillor J Kaufman.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and approve the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 July 2024 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

There is no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule(s) 11 and 12 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

Letter of the Director of Grant Thornton

The Committee gave consideration to the Value For Money Delay Letter – OWBC 2023 / 2024 (as set out on page 6 of the agenda reports pack), which presented a Letter of the Director of Grant Thornton.

Councillor G A Boulter requested that the reasons given by the External Auditor as to why the Value for Money arrangements were not completed by 30 September 2024 be specifically minuted, namely the sector-wide difficulties facing the audit industry in terms of limited personnel resourcing and additional regulations impacting on workloads.

Councillor G A Boulter drew the Committee’s attention the perceived hypocritical position of previous criticism levelled towards the Council in relation to having an insufficient number of internal auditors to complete the internal audit work and the current position of there now being a similar deficiency in external auditors to complete their audit work.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the Value For Money Delay Letter be considered and noted.

In accordance with Rule 6.3 of Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chair moved for the order of business to be altered and taken in the order as reflected in the minutes.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLYRESOLVED THAT:

The order of business be altered, accordingly.

Urgent Report of the External Auditor

Under section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972, by reason of special circumstance, in that this additional item of business needs to be considered before the next meeting of the Audit Committee.

Under section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972, by reason of special circumstance, in that an additional item of business needed to be considered before the next meeting of the Audit Committee.

The Chair was of this opinion in that this urgent item of business was to be considered at this meeting due to the time-sensitive need to provide Members with a necessary update at this meeting so that Members were able to make a fully informed decision at the next meeting in relation to the sign-off and approval of relevant accounts.

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 2 - 15 of the agenda update) which presented the External Audit Progress Report for October 2024.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and Internal Audit Progress Report (October 2024) (as set out at Appendix 1) be considered and noted.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer / S151 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 7-29 of the agenda reports pack) which presented the Internal Audit Progress Report for October 2024.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and Internal Audit Progress Report (October 2024) (as set out at Appendix 1) be considered and noted.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer / S151 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 30-38 of the agenda reports pack) which presented the Strategic Risk Register Update for quarter 1 2024/25.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and Strategic Risk register Update (Q1 2024/2025) (as set out at Appendix 1) be considered and noted.