Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

13.

Election of Vice-Chair for 2020/21

Committee procedure 12.3 of the Council’s Constitution states that the Vicechair of the Audit Committee will be appointed by the Committee from among its members. The Committee is asked to do so for the Council Year 2020/21.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Bolton volunteered to be the Audit Committee Vice-Chair for 2020/21. The proposal was put to the vote by the committee.

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Bolton be appointed Vice-chair of the Committee for the Council year 2020/21.

14.

Minutes from the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 304 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9th June 2020.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6th June 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

 

15.

Disclosures of pecuniary and personal interest

Minutes:

No disclosures were made.

 

16.

Questions under other committee procedures 12.8

No questions were submitted.

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted.

17.

Progress of External Audit Update

A verbal report of the External Auditors will be presented to the Committee.

Minutes:

A report of the External Auditors had been received by the Committee prior to the meeting.

 

Unfortunately no one from the External Auditors was able to attend the meeting so the Committee was advised that if they had any questions to contact the Auditors outside of the meeting.

18.

Capital Strategy Update pdf icon PDF 186 KB

A report of the Head of Finance and Property Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Finance Services was submitted to the Committee presenting the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2020/21 (item 07 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The Strategic Director for Corporate Services, The Strategic Director for Commercial Development and the Head of Finance Services attended the meeting to assist with consideration of the item.

 

The Committee asked questions of the officers’ present and voiced their concerns that there was an increase in borrowing which created increased risk for the Council. The officers advised that the money was being used for investment in the Council’s commercialisation plan, property investment portfolio and town deal investment.

 

RESOLVED that having scrutinised the report and asked questions of the officers present the Committee felt it was appropriate to recommend the report to Cabinet.

 

Reason

 

Having scrutinised the report the Committee felt there were no issues they wished to raise to the Cabinet.

 

Note: following the meeting the Head of Finance Services confirmed that in relation to Appendix B in the Treasury Management (pg32) the correct dates for the investment with Slough Borough Council was 02/4/2020-01/4/2021.

19.

Internal Audit Progress Report pdf icon PDF 241 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted summarising the progress against audits for the 2020/21 Audit Plan (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The Head of Strategic Support and the Audit Manager attended the meeting to assist the Committee with the consideration of this item.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

Reason

 

To acknowledge the Committee’s consideration of this item.

20.

2019/20 Member Allowances Claimed pdf icon PDF 191 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Head of  Strategic Support was submitted to the Committee to consider the amounts claimed by members of the Borough Council and co-opted members under the Council’s Member’s Allowances Scheme for 2019/20.  (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The  Head  of  Strategic  Support   attended  the  meeting  to  assist  with consideration of the item.

 

RESOLVED that the report be approved.

 

Reason

 

The Committee was content with the report and had no specific areas of concern or actions that it wished to include as part of its decision.

21.

Whistle Blowing, Anti-Fraud, Corruption And Bribery Policy pdf icon PDF 243 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted to provide the Committee with information regarding the operation of the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy and Whistle-blowing Policy during 2019/20 (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The Head of Strategic Support attended the meeting to assist the Committee with the consideration of this item.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

Reason

 

The Committee was content with the report and had no specific areas of concern or actions that it wished to include as part of its decision.

22.

Risk Management (Risk Register) Update pdf icon PDF 244 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted providing the Committee with details of the Strategic Risk Register and Covid Risk Register produced. (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The Head of Strategic Support attended the meeting to assist the Committee with the consideration of this item.

 

The Committee was advised that there was a weekly monitoring meeting in response to Covid which looked at existing and new risks to the organisation. Any new risks that were identified were added to the risk register and the register was reviewed on a regular basis. The risk register was also due to be reviewed by the Corporate Leadership Team at their next meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

Reason

 

The Committee was content with the report and had no specific areas of concern or actions that it wished to include as part of its decision.

23.

COUNCIL'S USE OF REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT (RIPA) pdf icon PDF 193 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted providing the Committee with a summary of the Council’s use of RIPA powers (item 12 on the agenda included with these minutes).

 

The Head of Strategic Support attended the meeting to assist the Committee with the consideration of this item.

 

RESOLVED that it be noted that there has been no use made of RIPA powers by the Council for the period from 1st May to 31st August 2020.

 

Reason

 

To enable the Committee to comply with the request from Cabinet that the Audit Committee assumes responsibility for receiving a quarterly report on the use of RIPA, and to report to Cabinet any concerns arising from those reports that may indicate that the use of RIPA is not consistent with the Policy or that Policy may not be fit for purpose.

24.

Work programme pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Report of the Head of Strategic Support.

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was submitted to enable the Committee to consider its work programme (item 13 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

RESOLVED that the Committee proceeds on the basis of the following work programme, which incorporates all decisions made at this meeting:

 

ISSUE

MEETING

 

Internal Audit Business

Ongoing

2019/20 Statement of Accounts

 

25th November 2020

(Accounts Meeting)

 

Annually

2019/20 Annual Governance Statement and Review of the Code of Corporate Governance

25th November 2020

(Accounts Meeting)

 

Annually

Internal Audit Plan – Progress

 

December 2020

 

Quarterly

Risk Management

(Risk Register)

 

December 2020

 

Quarterly - detailed report every six months, exception report quarters in-between.

Council’s Use of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)

December 2020

 

Quarterly

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review

December 2020

 

Annually

2020/21 Treasury Management Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and MRP Strategy

February 2021

 

Annually

2021/22 Internal Audit Plan

February 2021

 

Annually

Annual IT Health Check (Code of Connection)

Confidential Report

June 2021

 

Annually

2020/21 Annual Internal Audit Report

June 2021

 

Annually

Internal Audit Charter

 

June 2021

 

Annually (for approval)


2020/21 Members’ Allowances Claimed

June 2021

 

Annually

Whistle Blowing and Anti-fraud, Corruption and Bribery

June 2021

 

Annually

Environmental Audits – Report on Outcomes

June 2021

 

Annually

 

Note: Six month exception report where identified actions are not implemented by the target date.

2020/21 Treasury Management Outturn

June 2021

 

Annually

 

 

Future of Local Public Audit

Report on Government proposals considered 5th July 2011.

Further report once final regulations/guidelines are known.

Note:

Appointing Your External Auditor briefing note considered June 2016.

.           Policy for Engagement of External Auditors for non-audit work

 

Considered March 2013.

 

Review policy - date to be agreed

External Audit Business

Ongoing

2019/20 Annual Governance Report

 

 

25th November 2020

(Accounts Meeting)

 

Annually

2019/20 Annual Audit Letter

July 2021

 

Annually

External Audit Progress Report and Technical Update

December 2020

 

Quarterly

Certification of Claims and Returns

(2020/21 Audit)

 

February 2021

 

Annually

2021/22 External Audit Plan

 

February 2021

 

Annually