Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Reading

Contact: Michael Popham - Democratic Services Manager  Email: michael.popham@reading.gov.uk

Link: Link to watch meeting (live or on demand)

Media

Items
No. Item

37.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 24 January 2023 pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

38.

Internal Audit Quarterly Progress Report pdf icon PDF 58 KB

This report provides an update on key findings emanating from Internal Audit reports issued since the last quarterly progress report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paul Harrington, Chief Auditor, submitted a report providing an update on the key findings emanating from the Internal Audit reports issued for the period 1 January to 31 March 2023 (Quarter 4).

 

The report provided a summary of the findings following each audit review, summarised the recommendations and management actions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Internal Audit Plan 2023/2024 & Internal Audit Charter pdf icon PDF 82 KB

This report sets out the work Internal Audit plans to undertake during the financial year 2023/2024. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paul Harrington, Chief Auditor, submitted a report setting out the work Internal Audit was planning to undertake during the financial year 2023/2024.  The report explained that internal audit was responsible for providing an annual formal opinion on the Council’s control environment.  The Audit Plan, which was attached at Appendix 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

40.

Strategic Risk Register Q4/Q1 2022/23 - 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

This report outlines the 2022/2023 Q4 update of the Strategic Risk Register.  The Risk Register covers the actions completed by the Council during Q4 and the risk ratings for the Council for Q1 of 2023/2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Robin Pringle, Health, Safety & Risk Management Lead, presented a report outlining the Q4 updates to the Strategic Risk Register (SRR), in line with the requirements of the Council’s Risk Management Strategy. A copy of the SRR was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Risk Register covered the actions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

2022/23 Quarter 3 Performance and Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 255 KB

This report sets out the projected revenue and capital outturn positions for 2022/23 for both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts as at the end of Quarter 3.  The report also sets out performance against the measures of success published in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Stuart Donnelly, Financial Strategy & Planning Manager, submitted a report, which had been considered by Policy Committee on 13 March 2023 (Minute 62 refers) setting out the projected revenue and capital outturn positions for 2022/23 for both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Accounts as at the end of Quarter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

42.

CIPFA Financial Management Code pdf icon PDF 197 KB

A report on the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy Financial Management Code, which sets out the standards of financial management for local authorities to assess themselves against.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Stuart Donnelly, Financial Planning & Strategy Manager, submitted a report on the Financial Management Code 2019 (FM Code) (Appendix 1), which had been introduced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA).  The Code set out the standards of financial management for local authorities.  Local authorities had been expected to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

43.

Implementation of the New Finance System - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To receive a report providing an update on the implementation of the new Finance System.

Minutes:

Darren Carter, Director of Finance, submitted a report updating on the progress made towards the implementation of a new finance system.  The report stated that implementation of the new system had been delayed until Autumn 2023 to ensure that it would be fully operational at the point of ‘go-live’. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

Information Governance Quarterly Update pdf icon PDF 154 KB

This report provides an update on the actions in progress to improve the Council’s policies, systems and processes around information governance.

Minutes:

Michael Graham, Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services, submitted a report outlining the action underway to improve the Council’s policies, systems and processes for Information Governance following several limited assurance reports in this area.

 

The report provided an update on: the action being taken to address the backlog of Subject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

Implementation of Audit Recommendations Tracker pdf icon PDF 102 KB

This report sets out a summary of those high and medium risk Internal Audit recommendations which remain outstanding together with an updated management response.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Charlie Stewart, Executive Director of Resources, presented a report setting out a summary of Internal Audit recommendations and updated management responses since the last Committee.  At the last meeting on 24 January 2023, it was agreed to focus only on audit recommendations with either a ‘limited’ or ‘no assurance’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

46.

Closing of Financial Accounts Update

To receive a verbal update on the progress to complete the audit of the Council’s Final Accounts.

Minutes:

Mark Sanders, Chief Accountant, provided a verbal update on closing the financial accounts.  He explained that three sets of accounts (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) were being worked on concurrently.  The Committee was advised that sign-off of the 2019/20 accounts was now imminent and assuming there were no last-minute alterations, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

External Auditor Update pdf icon PDF 62 KB

The Council’s External Auditor EY will provide a verbal update on the 2019/20 audit and will present a draft Audit Results Report for 2020/21.  The draft Audit Results Report is included as an Appendix to this report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mark Sanders, Chief Accountant, submitted a covering report on the 2019/20 audit process and EY’s 2020/21 External Audit Plan, which was attached as an Appendix to the report.

 

Maria Grindley and Adrian Balmer, EY, presented the draft Audit Plan for 2020/21 summarising the assessment of the key risks driving the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.