The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Minute 17(3)(a) – The Chair referred to the Committee operating under new terms of reference that had been agreed by Council on 17 October 2024, which included a responsibility: ‘To review the governance and assurance arrangements for significant partnerships or collaborations.’  The Committee agreed that the first report to be received on governance and assurance arrangements of partners should be on Brighter Futures for Children.  The Committee noted the Strategic Risk Register included companies the Council either owned or had a significant interest in.  These companies’ governance arrangements included being managed within a comprehensive framework to ensure there was effective oversight by the Council to enable it to properly discharge its duties as shareholder or member.

Minute 17(3)(b) – The Chair informed the Committee that the Chief Auditor would be circulating a short questionnaire to members to assist the production of the Annual Report on how the Committee had complied with the CIPFA position statement and discharged its responsibilities, including an assessment of its performance, as required by its the new terms of reference.

Noted:

(1)         That the first report on governance and assurance arrangements of significant partnerships or collaborations be submitted on Brighter Futures for Children at a future meeting of the Committee with similar reports on other partners to follow in due course;

(2)         That members of the Audit & Governance Committee be asked to respond to the short questionnaire to be circulated in the week beginning 29 January 2024 from the Chief Auditor promptly to enable the Committee’s Annual Report to be prepared.