Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Joss Butler Email: joss.butler@surreycc.gov.uk
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were recevied from Keith Witham. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
To agree 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 (17 March 2021). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (16 March 2021). 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
To review the Committee’s recommendations tracker. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Paul Evans, Director – Law and Governance
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. In regards to Action A1/21, the Director – Law and Governance explained that a private briefing with the Cabinet Member would be held as part of the new committee’s June induction. It was noted that Members could use the briefing as an opportunity to discuss the committee’s forward work programme and schedule appropriate training.
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the committee noted the report.
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Risk management update
To provide an update on the strategic risk register and next steps to enable the committee to meet its responsibilities for monitoring the development and operation of the council’s risk management arrangements.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Anna D'Alessandro, Director - Corporate Finance Ross Tutor, Representative from EY Mary Buxton, Representative from EY
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers introduced the report and informed Members that the purpose of the report was to update on the strategic risk register and next steps to enable the committee to meet its responsibilities for monitoring the development and operation of the council’s risk management arrangements. Representatives from EY went on to reference a slideshow which can be found from page 13 of the meeting’s agenda. This included details on: a. Steps taken to identify, agree and assess strategic risks b. A summary of strategic risks c. Next steps to develop and maintain the strategic risk register 2. Members noted that the top risks had been based on the Corporate Leadership Team’s (CLT) scoring. 3. A Member asked whether the top identified risk had been compared with risk of other similar local authorities. Representatives from EY explained that a team of experts had analysed the list of risks and were able to incorporate knowledge of other council’s main risks. 4. The Committee asked whether the risk consultants were receiving cooperation from the council’s senior officers. The representatives explained that they had received all the cooperation that they needed to collate a list of top 20 risks in the council however noted that the impact of the pandemic had caused some issues.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved: The Committee noted the report. |
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ETHICAL STANDARDS ANNUAL REVIEW
To enable the Committee to monitor the operation of the Members’ Code of Conduct over the course of the last year. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses: Paul Evans, Director – Law and Governance
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers introduced the report and noted that the report covered the operation of the Members’ Code of Conduct over the course of the last year. Members also noted recent activity in relation to the Members’ Code of Conduct and complaints made in relation to member conduct. 2. The Committee noted that the majority of complaints received were from interactions with councillors on social media. 3. A Member of the committee felt that the word ‘alleged’ should be used when noting complaints which were concluded to have not breeched the code of conduct.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved:
The Audit and Governance Committee:
a) Noted the Committee’s work undertaken over the past year in relation to establish a working group to review possible changes to the Members’ Code of Conduct in light of recommendations from:
a. The Committee on Standards and Ethics ‘Local Government Ethical Standards’ report (2019).
b. The Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct
b) Noted the Monitoring Officer’s report on recent activity in relation to the Members’ Code of Conduct and complaints made in relation to member conduct.
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Redmond Review - Local Audit and Local Authority Financial Reporting
This report updates the Audit and Governance Committee on the recent Redmond Review into the oversight of local audit and the transparency of local authority financial reporting. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses: Barry Stratfull, Chief Accountant (Corporate) Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers introduced the report and noted details on the recent Redmond Review into the oversight of local audit and transparency of local authority financial reporting. 2. A Member of the committee felt the review was premature until the Government confirmed its strategy on the subject. 2. The Chairman proposed an amendment to Recommendation 2 which was (addition in bold) ‘The Committee considers recommending that the new Council in May 2021 appointment a suitably qualified, independent member of the Audit and Governance Committee to support elected representatives in scrutinising local authority finances’. The Committee agreed the amendment. 3. The Committee further noted that the council was governed by CIPFA guidelines on financial reporting and that the Redmond Review was an opportunity to streamline the guidelines.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved: 1. The Committee noted the findings and recommendations of the Redmond Review. 2. The Committee recommended that the new Council in May 2021 appointment a suitably qualified, independent member of the Audit and Governance Committee to support elected representatives in scrutinising local authority finances.
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Grant Thornton: 2020/21 External Audit Plan
This report provides the Audit & Governance Committee with the Audit Plan for the external audit of the 2020/21 financial statements of the Council and the Surrey Pension Fund. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses: Ciaran McLaughlin, Grant Thornton Paul Evans, Director – Law and Governance
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The representative from Grant Thornton introduced the report and provided a brief summery. Members noted details of the Audit Plan for the external audit of the 2020/21 financial statements of the Council and the Surrey Pension Fund. The Audit Plan provided an overview of the planned scope of the statutory audits of the Council’s and Pension Fund accounts for 2020/21. It also outlined the risks identified by Grant Thornton, the Council’s external auditors, for the audit of the Council’s 2020/21 financial statements and their planned response to these risks. Further to this, the report outlined the work the auditor would undertake as part of the assessment of the Council’s Value for Money arrangements. 2. Members thanked Grant Thornton for their work on the audit plan. 3. A Member of the Committee asked why there was little mentioned of the Eco Park in the report. The representative from Grant Thornton explained that consideration of the Eco park would form part of the valuation of land and buildings.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved:
The Audit and Governance Committee approved the audit plan.
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Internal Strategy and Annual Audit Plan 2021/22
The purpose of this report is to present the Internal Audit Strategy and Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2021/22 to the Committee.
Under-pinning the work of the Orbis Internal Audit Service in delivering the Annual Internal Audit Plan are the key principles and objectives as set out in the Internal Audit Strategy and Charter. These are presented alongside the Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2021/22 as good practice dictates that these should be updated and reviewed on an annual basis.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses: Russell Banks, Chief Internal Auditor Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers introduced the item and noted that the purpose of the report was to present the Internal Audit Strategy and Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2021/22 to the Committee. Members noted that it under-pinned the work of the Orbis Internal Audit Service in delivering the Annual Internal Audit. The Plan included key principles and objectives as set out in the Internal Audit Strategy and Charter. Members noted further specific details on the plan which can be found from page 71 of the agenda. Following the introduction, Members noted that the committee would be informed of any changes to the plan over the next year. 2. Officers informed Members that the new Committee would receive training on Internal Audit in the new council term.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved: Members considered the contents of the report and Appendices, and approved the following:
(i) The Internal Audit Strategy (ii) The Internal Audit and Corporate Fraud Plan (iii) The Internal Audit Charter
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Internal Audit Progress Report - Quarter 3 (01/10/20 - 31/12/20)
The purpose of this progress report is to inform members of the work completed by Internal Audit between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2020. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses: David John, Audit Manager Russell Banks, Chief Internal Auditor
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers introduced the report and noted details of the work completed by Internal Audit between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2020. Members noted that the key audit findings from final reports issued during Quarter 3 were summarised in Appendix A of the report. 2. Members noted that a ‘Reasonable Assurance’ conclusion was given to the ‘Cyber Security during COVID-19’ Internal Audit report. 3. Members discussed the progress made in the Surveillance Cameras follow-up audit and asked that a further report is presented to the new Committee following the May 2021 elections.
Actions/ further information to be provided: None.
Resolved: The Committee noted the report.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Audit & Governance Committee will be on 7 June 2021. Additional documents: Minutes: The date of the meeting was noted as 7 June 2021. |