The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

This report includes the detailed report setting out the findings and recommendations from the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge and the Action Plan developed in response.

Charlie Stewart, interim Executive Director of Resources, presented a report introducing the findings from the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge that had taken place in June 2022. The following documents were appended to the report:

• LGA Peer Challenge – Final Report (Appendix 1)
• Action Plan (Appendix 2)

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

This report provides the Committee with an update of the Strategic Risk Register for Quarter 3 of 2022/23.

Robin Pringle, Health, Safety & Risk Management Lead, presented a report outlining the Q3 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 SRR had been reviewed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

This report provides the latest update on progress with the implementation of the new finance system which is due to go live in April 2023.

Darren Carter, Director of Finance, submitted a report updating on the progress made towards the implementation of a new finance system. Implementation of the new e5 financial system was currently at the test phase and, whilst there was still a considerable amount of work that needed to be completed, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

This report provides an update on the activity of the Treasury Management function during the first half of the year for the period 1^st April 2022 to 30^th September 2022.

Stuart Donnelly, Financial Strategy & Planning Manager, submitted a report on the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy.  The report provided an update on the activity of the Treasury Management function during the first half of the year for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

This report sets 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 2 (September 2022).  The report also sets out performance against the measures of success published in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Stuart Donnelly, Financial Strategy & Planning Manager, submitted a report, which had been considered by Policy Committee on 15 December 2022 (Minute 38 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 31.

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

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 32.

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

Charlie Stewart, interim Executive Director of Resources, presented a report setting out progress with the Implementation of Audit Recommendations. A copy of the Implementation of Audit Recommendations Tracker for January 2023 was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that each recommendation set out in Appendix 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

This report provides an update with progress on completion of the audit of the Council’s Final Accounts for 2019/20, 2020/21 and preparation for the 2021/22 accounts. The report will be considered alongside EY’s External Audit Update report also on tonight’s agenda.  The report also confirms that KPMG will be the Council’s new External Auditor for five years covering the 2023/24 to 2027/28 Statements of Account.

Mark Sanders, Chief Accountant, submitted a report providing an update on closing the financial accounts.  The report explained that three sets of accounts (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) were being worked on concurrently.  The accounts were all at different stages of completion, which brought extra complexity to the process for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

The Council’s External Auditor EY will provide an update on the 2019/20 audit process and present their 2020/21 External Audit Plan.

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 initial assessment of the key risks driving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

This report proposes the continued use of the Council’s Risk Based Verification (RBV) process in 2023/24. 

Samantha Wills, Revenues & Benefits Manager, submitted a report recommending that the Council continued to use its Risk Based Verification (RBV) process in 2023/24.  The scheme enabled the processing of claims for Housing Benefit payments and Council Tax Support awards to be streamlined, thereby enabling customers to receive payments sooner. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

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 report providing an update on the key findings emanating from the Internal Audit reports issued for the period 1 October to 31 December 2022 (Quarter 3).

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 26.