Agenda

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to note any outstanding actions.

This report presents the external auditor’s Interim Annual Audit Report concerning the Council’s arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources (commonly known as “Value for Money” reporting). The report covers the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The following is presented by the external auditor for discussion and noting:

·   External Audit Progress and Sector Update November 2023

This report provides an update on the implementation (six months to 30 September 2023) of the 2023/24 Treasury Management Strategy, approved by Council on 23 February 2023 and presents the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 mid-year review. 

Each year the Council is required to publish a self-assessment against the Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code and take it for discussion and approval at an appropriate governance board annually.

The Council’s self-assessment was updated in September 2023 and is now coming to the Audit Committee for approval. 

The purpose of this report is to provide members of the Audit Committee with an update on risk management across the Council.

This report summarises the status of work included in the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan as at the end of October 2023.  Two audits have been finalised, both of which received positive assurance opinions, with a further six audits at draft report stage. 

The status of audits confirmed for inclusion within the Plan, is shown in Appendix 2. 

This report provides an account of fraud-related activity during the first half of the financial year to minimise the risk of fraud, bribery and corruption occurring within and against the Council.

For the period 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2023, the Council identified 235 positive outcomes. The fraud identified has a notional value of over £680,000.

This report provides an update on the external audit fees for 2023/24 as set by Public Sector Audit Appointments and the Council’s response to the recent consultation on the proposed framework for fees.

The next meeting will be held on:

·       11 March 2024