The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Further to Minute 36 of the previous meeting, on the Information Governance Quarterly Update, which had included stating that the report had provided an update on “the on-time  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

This report updates the Committee that the draft 2024/25 Statement of Accounts has been published on the Council’s website by the statutory deadline of 30 June, the formal public inspection period is scheduled to commence in early July and it outlines the timing of the external audit scrutiny.

The Committee received a report on the unaudited draft 2024/25 Statement of Accounts for Reading Borough Council, and the Reading Borough Council Group which included its subsidiaries Brighter Futures for Children, Reading Transport Limited and Homes for Reading, which had been published on the Council’s website by the statutory deadline  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

A representative from the Council’s External Auditor, KPMG, will present the External Audit Plan and Strategy and answer any questions.

The Committee received a covering report on behalf of the Council’s External Auditor, KPMG, which had attached a draft External Audit Plan & Strategy for the year ending 31 March 2025.  The external audit process included the approval of the annual Statement of Accounts results and the publication of accurate,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

This report presents the annual assurance report of the Chief Auditor required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations and the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.

The Committee considered a report setting out at Appendix 1 the Internal Audit Annual Assurance Report of the Chief Auditor for 2024/25, as required by the Accounts and Audit regulations and the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.  The report gave the Chief Auditor’s opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the key findings from the Internal Audit reports issued for the period 1 April to 30 June 2025 (Quarter 1).

The report summarised the findings, recommendations and management actions that had been put forward for each audit review and stated the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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

The Committee considered a report setting out a summary of Internal Audit recommendations and updated management responses, which focused on those recommendations where there had been either a ‘limited’ or ‘no assurance’ opinion.  Appendix 1 to the report contained a summary of Internal Audit recommendations and updated management responses since  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report fulfils the requirement in the Treasury Management Strategy to produce an Annual Outturn Report to review the Treasury Management activity which took place from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.

The Committee considered a report on the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25.  The Treasury Management Strategy required an Annual Outturn Report reviewing the Treasury Management activity which had taken place during the year. 

The report stated that at the start of 2024/25 the Bank of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

A report on the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25 for publication with the Council’s financial statements.

The Committee considered a report setting out the draft 2024/25 Annual Governance Statement (AGS), which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Council was required to prepare and publish an AGS each year as an accompaniment to the authority’s financial statements.  The Council was responsible for ensuring that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.