Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so. A simultaneous translation service will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Chief Officer Commercial and Customer

Mike Jones, Richard Harries, Alice King and Deborah Woods, Audit Wales.

To receive.

There were no declarations of interests or dispensations reported.

To receive the decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 12^th July, 2023.

(Please note the decisions are submitted for points of accuracy only).

The decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 12^th July, 2023 were submitted.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.

To receive the Action Sheet arising from the meeting held on 12^th July, 2023.

the Action Sheet arising from the meeting held on 12^th July, 2023 was submitted, whereupon:

Item No. 7 – Forward Work Programme 2023/24 – Refresher Training on the Role and Remit of the Governance & Audit Committee

It was noted that the above training would take place on Tuesday, 10^th October, 2023 at 9.30 a.m. via MS Teams. Therefore, this action was now complete.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the Action Sheet be noted.

To receive.

Consideration was given to report of the proposed Forward Work Programme 2023/2024, whereupon:

The following update was provided:

-        Annual Report of the Governance & Audit Committee would be considered by the Committee at the November meeting. However, in subsequent years this item would be included on the forward work programme for September.

-        Statement of Accounts 2021/2022 – subject to Audit Wales finalising the ISA 260, it was anticipated that this report would be presented to the October meeting of the Committee for consideration.

Following concerns raised by Members regarding the delay in receiving the finalised Statement of Accounts 2021/2022, the Chief Officer Resources advised that a representative of Audit Wales had offered to meet Members of the Committee to provide an explanation in terms of the issues that were currently being experienced.

RESOLVED accordingly.

It was unanimously,

FURTHER RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the Forward Work Programme be accepted.

To consider the report of the Audit and Risk Manager.

Consideration was given to the report of the Audit and Risk Manager.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the Internal Audit Charter be approved in line with good practice and the requirements of the PSIAS.

To consider the report of the Professional Lead, Internal Audit.

Members considered the report of the Professional Lead – Internal Audit, whereupon:

Internal Audit Report – Temporary Accommodation 2022/2023

Due to the potential financial impact on the local authority and the lack of social housing accommodation in the area, the issue of homelessness would be discussed departmentally to ascertain whether this matter should be included within the corporate risk register.

If appropriate, following the assessment of the risk and any potential mitigation measures, updates would be provided to the Committee.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the progress on activities for the period 1^st April to 30^th June, 2023 be noted.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

It was noted that Members would have further  opportunity to comment on the format of the risk register, the risk management process and the information presented in respect of the Committee’s assurance role at the refresher training session on 10^th October, 2023.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and following consideration of the information the Committee was assured that the Council had appropriate arrangements in place to manage risk.