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:-

Councillors J.P. Morgan and J. Wilkins

Chief Officer Commercial & Customer

To receive.

There were no declarations of interest and dispensations reported.

To receive the decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 9^th October, 2024.

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

The decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 9th October, 2024 were submitted.

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

To receive the Action Sheet arising from the meeting held on 9^th October, 2024.

The Action Sheet arising from the meeting held on 9th October, 2024 was submitted.

RESOLVED that the Action sheet be noted.

Consideration was given to the report of the Scrutiny & Democratic Officer, whereupon:-

The Corporate Director of Corporate Services informed Members that the Draft Statement of Accounts 2023/24 and the Draft Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 would not be presented to the next meeting in December but would be presented to the Committee early in the new year.

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Forward Work Programme for the Governance and Audit Committee be approved.

To consider the report of the Professional Lead Internal Audit.

Consideration was given to report of the Professional Lead Internal Audit.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the findings within the attached Appendices and the progress on activities for the period 1st July to 30th September 2024 be noted.

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Legal and Corporate Compliance.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Committee were assured that the process for the monitoring of complaints was robust and the performance information provided reflected those practices. (Option 1)

Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director of Corporate Services.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Shared Resource Service Summary of Audit Activity 24/25 provided by Torfaen CBC, containing the progress made against the SRS IT plan (Appendix A), and the report provided by the SRS responding to the recommendations made (Appendix B) be noted.

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and based on the findings of the audit work undertaken for the first six months, there did not appear to be any concerns highlighted of such significance that would preclude the Audit & Risk Manager giving an opinion that the internal controls in place were operating to a reasonable level.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Performance & Democratic.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and having considered and challenged the content, ensuring that it was consistent with their knowledge and understanding of the wider issues affecting the Council, the AGS 2022/23 be approved and adopted. (Option 1)

To consider the reports of:

(i)       Corporate Director of Corporate Services

(ii)      The Auditor General for Wales

(Copies attached)

Consideration was given to the reports of the Corporate Director of Corporate Services and the Auditor General for Wales.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the treatment of the uncorrected misstatement detailed in paragraph 5.14 (adjustment to MRP charge for 2022/2023) be agreed and the Accounts for 2022/2023 be approved under the delegated authority of the Council.