Councillor Gittings declared a non-pecuniary personal interest in Agenda item 4/ Minute 4, ‘Audit Arrangements for Brighter Futures for Children’.

The Minutes of the meeting of 16 April 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Questions on the following matters were submitted, in accordance with Standing Order 36(2):

The report describes the Internal Audit arrangements and governance that are in place to ensure that children and education service related risks are appropriately monitored and acted on by BFfC.

Further to Minute 32 of the previous meeting, Kate Graefe, Assistant Director of Procurements and Contracts, submitted a report setting out the audit arrangements for Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), providing assurance that children and education service related risks that had previously been reported to the Committee were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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.

Paul Harrington, Chief Auditor, submitted a report setting out at Appendix 1 the Internal Audit Annual Assurance Report of the Chief Auditor, 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 5.

This report provides an update on key findings emanating from Internal Audit reports issued since the last quarterly progress report in April 2019.

Paul Harrington, Chief Auditor, submitted a reportproviding an update on key findings emanating from Internal Audit reports issued since the last quarterly progress report in April 2019.

The report set out a summary of the audit reports in respect of Payroll; Non Domestic Rates; Section 106 (follow-up); Corporate Buildings  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report provides an update on the Council’s 2019/20 Strategic Risk Register (Quarter 1), in line with the requirements of the Council’s risk management strategy.

Paul Harrington, Chief Auditor, submitted a report presenting the updated Corporate Strategic Risk Register, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Register was presented to the Committee at least once every six months and included an assessment of the risk appetite for each individual risk, which gave  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

Further to Minute 32 of the meeting held on 16 April 2019, Jackie Yates, Executive Director of Resources, submitted a report setting out, at Appendix 1, the Implementation of Audit Recommendations tracker report.

The report explained that each recommendation was marked with a percentage complete which correlated to a red/amber/green  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This report updates the Committee on progress with the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Further to Minute 33 of the meeting held on 16 April 2019, Matt Davis, Assistant Director of Finance, submitted a report providing an update on progress with the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.  The Committee was advised that the 2016/17 Accounts had now been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive a report on the 2016/17 Accounts from the Council’s external auditor EY.

Adrian Balmer, EY, presented the Audit Results report on the 2016/17 accounts.  The External Auditor’s opinion was that the financial statements:

• gave a true and fair view of the financial position of Reading Borough Council and Group as at 31 March 2017 and of its expenditure and income for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.