The Minutes of the meeting of 20 April 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 2.

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

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 January 2021.

The report set out a summary of the audit reports in respect of: General Ledger; NNDR and Council Tax Administration; Commercialisation; and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

This report provides an update on progress of the Programme workstreams and their deliverables against the Plan since the last meeting.

Chris Tidswell, CIPFA, presented a report providing an update on progress of the Finance Improvement Programme (FIP) against the plan for each workstream and their deliverables.  The report explained that the FIP had two key phases:  Phase I was responding to the historic and current issues identified to ensure a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This report outlines the actions in progress to improve the Council’s policies, systems and processes for better Information Governance.

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

The report detailed the work of the Information Governance (IG) Board, which was responsible for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This report reviews the Treasury Management activity which took place during the period from 1^st April 2020 to 31^st March 2021.

Darren Carter, Director of Finance, submitted a report on the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21.  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 the Council had continued to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Thisreport updatesthe Committeeon progresswith the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Darren Carter, Director of Finance, submitted a report providing an update on the completion of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.  Thereport stated that officers had now completed all outstanding work in respect of the 2018/19 Accounts.  The revised Statement reflecting all the agreed amendments had  ...  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.

Jackie Yates, Deputy Chief Executive, presented 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 rating (up to 25% complete: red, between 26% and 75%: amber, over 75%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive a report from the external auditors summarising their audit conclusion in relation to the audit of Reading Borough Council and Group for 2018/19.

Maria Grindley and Adrian Balmer, EY, reported on their draft audit results, which summarised the external auditor’s audit conclusion in relation to the audit of Reading Borough Council and Group for 2018/19.  The previous audit year, 2017/18, had been challenging for the Council, and EY’s audit opinion had been qualified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.