Agenda and minutes
PDF 395 KBVenue: Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF
Contact: Angela Guest Email: angela.guest@surreycc.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Joanne Sexton. An apology for lateness received from Richard Tear who arrived at 11am at the beginning of discussion on the Statement of Accounts item.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING - 28 NOVEMBER 2022
The Committee are asked to approve the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes were approved as an accurate record of the previous meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter (i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or (ii) Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting NOTES: · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (12/01/2023). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (11/01/2023). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.
Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND WORK PLAN
To review the Committee’s recommendations tracker and draft workplan for 2023. Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: That the action tracker and workplan be noted.
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INTERNAL AUDIT - INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
The purpose of this report is to present to the Audit and Governance Committee the final report from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) following its independent external assessment of Orbis Internal Audit (Orbis IA) against Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).
Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Russell Banks, Orbis Chief Internal Auditor David John, Audit Manager
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: The Committee noted the findings from the report, including those areas identified where opportunities for further improvement may exist for the future.
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HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT - AUDIT UPDATE
The Committee requested a service update whilst awaiting further Audit report at its September 2022 meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Michael Smith, Strategic Finance Business Partner Gerry Hughes, Head of Business Support
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted and to expect an update to the Committee in September 2023.
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TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT 2023/24
This report sets out the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24, as required, to ensure compliance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2021 Edition (the CIPFA Code).
Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Nikki O’Connor, Strategic Finance Business Partner Anna D’Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance and Commercial Paul Evans, Director, Law and Governance
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) – Part 4 of the Capital, Investment and Treasury Strategy - for 2023/24 including the Prudential Indicators be approved.
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STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2021/22
The purpose of this report is to receive the Council’s Statement of Accounts. Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Barry Stratfull – Chief Accountant Ciaran McLaughlin – Grant Thornton Ade Oyerinde – Grant Thornton
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: 1. That the contents of the Audit Findings report be noted. 2. That recommendations 2 to 5 could not be agreed due to an incomplete audit report.
Richard Tear arrived at 11am at the beginning of debate on this item.
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REPORT OF CENTRE FOR GOVERNANCE AND SCRUTINY - BEHAVIOURAL AND CULTURAL GOVERNANCE REVIEW
To present to members the findings of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) following a review of Council governance using their Governance Risk and Resilience Framework which considers good governance through the behavioural and cultural characteristics of an organisation.
Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Paul Evans, Director of Law and Governance and Chair of the Governance Panel
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Director of Law and Governance introduced a report that detailed the findings of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) review of Council governance using their Governance Risk and Resilience Framework. Surrey County Council was an early adopter of this approach to establish, with the help of CfGS, where development and improvement could assist the Council’s future understanding and management of risk related to governance. 2. The CfGS concluded that Surrey’s systems, processes, and behaviours around governance were robust. But it was still necessary for the Council to prepare to strengthen and refine systems which were currently resilient. This continuous improvement in governance was important.
Action/Further information to note: That an update report on actions going forward would be brought to the Committee in July.
RESOLVED: 1. That the feedback and findings of the Centre For Governance And Scrutiny were noted. 2. That the draft action plan be agreed. 3. That an update report on the implementation of the plan be requested for the July meeting of the Committee.
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This report provides the Audit & Governance Committee with the outcome and findings of the external audits of the 2021/22 financial statements of Hendeca Group Ltd, Surrey Choices Ltd, Halsey Garton Residential Ltd, and Halsey Garton Property Ltd. Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Joe Stockwell, Senior Finance Business Partner Anna D’Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance and Commercial Paul Evans, Director, Law and Governance
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the 2021/22 Audit Reports for of Hendeca Group Ltd, Surrey Choices Ltd, Halsey Garton Residential Ltd, and Halsey Garton Property Ltd be noted.
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EXTERNAL AUDIT: ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT 2021/22
The Council’s external auditors present their Annual Audit Report. Additional documents: Minutes: Speakers: Nikki O’Connor, Strategic Finance Business Partner Ciaran McLaughlin – Grant Thornton Anna D’Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance and Commercial David Mody, Head of Strategic Risk
Key points raised during the discussion:
Action/Further information to note: That a six-month update be brought to the Committee.
RESOLVED: Note the report and consider the improvement recommendations outlined in Grant Thornton’s Annual Report on Surrey County Council for 2021/22.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Audit & Governance Committee will be on 8 March 2023. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting of Audit & Governance Committee will be on 8 March 2023.
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