To note the Annual Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2024/25 following review by the Audit and Governance Committee.

Members received the Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2024/25 from Councillor Ros Jackson, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, pages 117 to 130 of the Agenda refer.

Members were referred to the details which included the following areas:

·       Audit and Governance Committee Membership 2024/25

·       Committee Meetings and Summary of Work

·       Internal and External Audit

·       Governance

·       Treasury and Accounts

·       Risk Management

·       Training and Development

Councillor Ros Jackson, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee highlighted key elements from the Annual Report and commented as follows:

·       The catch-up work completed on audits and accounts, as well as the emerging governance issues and challenges arising from local government reorganisation remained ongoing areas of focus for the Committee.

·       The Committee had struggled to achieve full attendance, which the Chairman of the Committee considered a serious governance issue and emphasised the importance of sending substitutes when Members were unable to attend.  This was a key area for improvement within the Council.

·       The list of items and reports considered by the committee were more extensive than usual, reflecting the catch-up work undertaken.

N.B.  Councillors Richard Fry and Daniel Simpson left the Meeting at 7.54pm.

N.B.  Councillor Alex Hall left the room at 7.52pm and re-joined the Meeting at 7.54pm.

N.B.  Councillor Will Grover left the room at 7.54pm and re-joined the Meeting at 8.02pm.

N.B.  Councillor Fiona Martin left the room at 7.51pm and re-joined the Meeting at 7.55pm.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

• A Member of the Audit and Governance Committee stated that he would like to acknowledge and commend the two newly co-opted members, Ian Silcox Crow and Chris Pilkington for achieving 100% attendance throughout the year.

• It was further considered that it was important to highlight that the independent members had shown full commitment, which set a strong example and that Councillor Members should feel a duty to attend and ensure substitutes were arranged if they could not attend as it was a matter of governance and accountability.

·       The Vice-Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee fully supported the comments made and thanked Councillor Jackson as Chairman of the Committee who she considered exceptionally diligent and her attention to detail and thoroughness was greatly appreciated.

In response, the Leader of the Council advised Members that the recent peer review highlighted that it was rare for councils to have opposition members leading Audit, Governance and Overview and this was seen as a significant strength of the Council and echoed his thanks to Cllr Jackson and all committee members for their work.

The Leader added that while attendance concerns were noted, he also wanted to recognise that when issues were raised, officers and the Portfolio Holder responded swiftly and effectively.

The Leader added further that the Executive Board took the work of Audit and Governance Committee very seriously, as it underpinned the governance framework, not just the decisions made, but the processes behind those decisions.

Further to a query raised in relation to the insufficient controls highlighted at Item 15 ‘Draft Minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee’, it was agreed that the Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee would provide further clarification on the matter of insufficient controls to the Member concerned.

RESOLVED:

That the Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2024/25 be noted.