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Agenda and minutes

Audit and Governance Committee - Thursday, 8th February, 2024 6.00 pm

Venue: Town Hall, Market Street, Tamworth. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  01827 709264

Media

Items
No. Item

48.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Daniels

49.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

(Moved by Councillor D Clarke and seconded by Councillor B Price)

 

50.

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.

51.

Internal Audit Quarter 3 Progress Report & External Quality Assessment Action Plan pdf icon PDF 67 KB

(Report of the Audit Manager)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Audit Manager provided the Audit & Governance Committee with internal audit’s progress report for the period to 31st December 2023. In addition, updated on internal audit’s progress in implementing the External Quality Assessment Action Plan for 2023/24.

 

 

Resolved

that the Committee:

 

 

1.

Noted Internal Audit’s Quarterly Progress Report (Appendix 1)

; and

2.

Noted External Quality Assessment Action Plan (Appendix 2)

 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor B Price and seconded by Councillor P Thurgood)

 

 

 

52.

Risk Management Quarterly Update Qt3 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

(Report of the Assistant Director, Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Assistant Director Finance reported on the Risk Management process and progress for Quarter 3 of the 2023/24 financial year.

 

Resolved

that the Committee

 

 

1.

Endorsed the Corporate Risk Register.

 

2.

Reviewed and approved the revised Corporate Risk Strategy/Policy.

 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor B Clarke and seconded by Councillor S Doyle)

 

 

 

 

 

53.

Audit Committee Effectiveness pdf icon PDF 58 KB

(Report of the Audit Manager)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Audit Manager undertook the annual self-assessment of Audit & Governance Committee effectiveness and provided an update in relation to the appointment of independent member/s to the Committee.

 

Resolved

that the Committee:

 

 

1.

considered the attached self-assessment checklist (Appendix 3) and endorsed any actions to improve its effectiveness as appropriate.

 

 

2.

Noted the current position in relation to appointment of an Independent Member to the Committee.

 

 

Committee also moved the following recommendations.

 

3.

Agreed that the Audit Manager make a representation to CIPFA stating the process of recruiting an independent member  has not been productive as a small district council. 

 

4.

Tasked the Audit Manager to look at the feasibility of a ‘member swap’ from a neighbouring authority to this Audit & Governance committee and vice versa. 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor S Doyle)

 

 

 

54.

Constitution & Scheme of Delegation Update pdf icon PDF 64 KB

(Report of the Monitoring Officer)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Monitoring Officer presented the necessary changes made to the Constitution following a number of changes as identified within the report and its appendices.

 

Resolved

that the Committee:

 

 

1.

Endorsed and recommended to Council the adoption of changes to the Constitution which are necessary following staff changes and policy amendments. The report also includes other constitutional changes to improve the Council’s governance.

 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Maycock and seconded by Councillor B Clarke)

 

 

 

55.

Audit and Governance Committee Timetable pdf icon PDF 105 KB

(Discussion Item)

Minutes:

The Committee reviewed the timetable.  There were no changes/additions

 

 

56.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To consider excluding the Press and Public from the meeting by passing the following resolution:-

 

“That in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meeting and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public  interest in disclosing the information to the public”

 

At the time this agenda is published no representations have been received that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That members of the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

 

(Moved by Councillor B Clarke and seconded by Councillor B Price)

 

57.

FHSF Risk Feb 244

Minutes:

Report of the Assistant Director - Growth & Regeneration updated the committee on FHSF Risks.

 

Resolved

that the Committee:

 

 

1.

Endorsed the report.

 

2.

Endorsed the risk register.

 

 

 

3.

 

4.

Committee also moved 2 further recommendations.

 

REDACTED

 

REDACTED

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor B Price)

 

 

The Committee thanked Officers for ongoing work on the project.