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Agenda and minutes

Audit and Governance Committee - Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 6.00 pm

Venue: Online Meeting. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  01827 709264

Link: View the link

Items
No. Item

80.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 197 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11th February 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record. The Chair reminded members to complete their skills and knowledge assessments following the Committee Effectiveness review which took place at the last meeting of the Committee.

 

(Moved by Councillor M Summers and seconded by Councillor C Cooke)

 

81.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

 

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of Interest.

82.

Audit Plan pdf icon PDF 3 MB

(Report of the External Auditors)

Minutes:

The external audit plan was presented by Mark Stocks of Grant Thornton. Members raised comments and questions on the level of audit fees, which are to be confirmed. 

 

RESOLVED:

That Members;

 

 

Endorsed the external Audit Plan for year ending 31st March 2021.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor C Cooke and seconded by Councillor J Faulkner)

 

83.

Informing the Audit Risk Assessment 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 523 KB

(Report of the External Auditors)

Minutes:

Mark Stocks presented the report.

 

RESOLVED:

That Members;

 

Endorsed the report of the External Auditor informing of the Audit Risk Assessment for 2020/21 for the Council.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor S Pritchard and seconded by Councillor C Cooke)

 

84.

Final Accounts 2020/21 - Accounting Policies and Action Plan pdf icon PDF 467 KB

(Report of the Executive Director, Finance)

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Financeadvised Members of the proposed Accounting Policies for 2020/21 and provided an outline of the corporate requirements that will need to be achieved in order to produce the Council’s Annual Statement of Accounts for 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED

That

 

 

1.    The proposed Accounting Policies for 2020/21, attached as Appendix A was approved;

 

 

2.    The target of 31st May 2021 for closure of the final accounts and production of  the statement for 2020/21 was approved;

 

 

3.    staffing resources be committed to the provision of appropriate information and support in order to meet the published timescales and the Committee receive progress updates (if required);

 

4.    CMT receive a fortnightly update until completion of the audit; and

 

 

5.    The Statement be presented to the Audit & Governance Committee on 28th July 2021.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor M Summers and seconded by Councillor C Cooke)

 

The Chair thanked the Team for the hard work in getting the accounts signed off by July. 

 

 

 

85.

Review of The Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Statement 2021/22 and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review Report 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

(Report of the Executive Director, Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Director Finance summarised the report and took questions from members in relation to return on investments and future risks associated with the pandemic on the diversified property fund.

 

 

RESOLVED

That Members;

 

 

Considered the Treasury Management Reports, as detailed within the reports attached at Appendix A and Appendix B and made no changes for recommendation to Cabinet.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor M Bailey)

 

 

 

86.

Review and Update of Financial Guidance pdf icon PDF 268 KB

(Report of the Assistant Director, Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Finance summarised the report and highlighted the key proposed amendments to the procurement and capital budgets sections within the Council’s Financial Guidance.

 

RESOLVED

That Members;

 

 

Endorsed the proposed amendments to the Council’s Financial Guidance, to take immediate effect.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor C Cooke and seconded by Councillor M Summers)

 

87.

Internal Audit Plan & Charter 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

(Report of the Head of Audit & Governance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Audit and Governance presented the internal audit plan and charter 2021/22.

  

 

RESOLVED

That Members

 

 

Commented on and endorsed the 2021/22 proposed internal audit plan (Appendix 1) and charter (Appendix 2). 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor J Faulkner and seconded by Councillor M Summers)

 

88.

Annual Report of the Audit & Governance Committee pdf icon PDF 208 KB

(Report of the Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee)

Minutes:

The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee presented the proposed Annual Report of the Audit & Governance Committee 2020/21 and sought the Committee’s endorsement prior to its submission to Council.

 

RESOLVED

That;

 

 

The proposed Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2020/21 be endorsed prior to its submission to Council.

 

(Moved by Councillor C Cooke and seconded by Councillor M Bailey)

 

89.

Audit and Governance Committee Timetable pdf icon PDF 228 KB

(Discussion Item)

Minutes:

The Committee reviewed the timetable.

 

The Chair thanked Councillor J Faulkner and Rebecca Neill on behalf of the Committee for their valued service and wished them well for the future.