Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via the Zoom app.

Contact: Amanda Coombes  01395 517543; email  acoombes@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Public speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no members of the public registered to speak.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Minutes for 16 March 2022.

Minutes:

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 16 March 2022 were recommended for approval.

3.

Declarations on interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

 

Minutes:

None

4.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

None

5.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

 

Minutes:

None

6.

Internal Audit Plan 2021-22 Outturn - to include Seaton Jurassic Centre Lessons Learnt report pdf icon PDF 267 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Adam Williams from SWAP provided an update on the outturn of the 2021/22 Internal Audit Plan and highlighted to members any significant findings identified through the audit work that impacted on governance, risk and control.

 

The Chair agreed to meet with the Leader and Strategic Lead Finance to discuss in more detail the Whistleblowing item in the Audit Plan, and if appropriate would request a further report to come back to the Committee.

 

Seaton Jurassic Centre Lessons Learnt report

This was a non-opinion ‘Lessons Learnt’ review offered by SWAP Internal Audit in its consultancy role. SWAP had been asked to review the governance and management of the initial build project for the Seaton Jurassic Centre and determine whether future lessons could be learnt from this.

 

Discussions around the Seaton Jurassic Centre report included the following;

·        To look into past years document management and digital data retention

·        the need to discuss the matter further between the Chairs of Audit & Governance and Scrutiny Committees to consider if a more detailed review was required.

 

Having received the report and noted the contents, members;

RECOMMENDED:

noted the outturn made in delivery of the 2021/22 internal audit plan and significant findings and to agreed to review the Whistleblowing Policy.

 

 

7.

Internal Audit Annual Audit Opinion 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 267 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Adam Williams from SWAP updated members of the Internal Audit function which played a central role in corporate governance by providing assurance to the Annual Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, looking over financial controls and checking on the probity of the organisation. The 2021-22 Annual Audit Plan provided independent and objective assurance on EDDC Internal Control Environment. This work supported the Annual Governance Statement.

 

Having received the report and noted the contents, members;

RECOMMENDED:

noted the Internal Audit Annual Opinion on the effectiveness of governance, risk and control in the delivery of EDDC Objectives.

 

 

8.

Revenue and Capital Outturn Report 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Minutes:

The Finance Manager informed the Committee of the financial outturn position for 2021/22.

 

Discussions included the following;

·        Why had there been an underspend on the maintenance of the council’s housing stock?

·        Any workload slippage from the contractor had a knock-on effect on residents

·        Residents reporting maintenance requirements needed to be followed up quickly

·        Any future contractual work would go through the procurement process allowing for possibly multiple contractors working for the council

·        There was a housing stock condition survey going ahead with data collect from this being used to improve services.

 

Having received the report and noted the contents, members;

RECOMMENDED:

To note the Revenue and Capital Outturn position for 2021/22 and the recommendations to Cabinet on 13 July 2022.

9.

Risk Management Review pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Minutes:

Risk information for the 2022/23 financial year was supplied to allow the Committee to monitor the risk status of Strategic and Operational Risks. This followed the full review of risks by responsible officers during May/June 2022.

 

Having received the report and noted the contents, members;

RECOMMENDED:

To note the current status of risks following the full risk review undertaken in May/June 2022.

10.

Auditor's Annual Report 2020-21 - Grant Thornton pdf icon PDF 11 MB

Minutes:

Jackson Murray from Grant Thornton presented the Annual report for 2020-21. During discussions the matter of continuing virtual meeting was raised after 31 October as well as the subject of Cabinet members sitting on the Committee, which went against CIPFA’s (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) best practise for good governance and effective audit committees.

 

Having received the report and noted the contents, members;

RECOMMENDED:

Members noted the Auditor's Annual Report 2020-21.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council;

To remove Cabinet members from sitting on the Audit and Governance Committee to ensure independence of the executive function.

11.

Contract Standing Orders update pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Lead Finance explained that there was an updated version of the Council’s Contract Standing Orders for the Committee to consider and if in agreement to recommend adoption by Council. The Government was introducing new procurement legislation, Transforming Public Procurement /the Procurement Bill, but it was not expected to be in place until mid-2023. Contract Standing Orders would be amended to incorporate this legislation once enacted, but in the meantime an interim update was required to reflect the UK having left the EU and the transition period having ended.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that;

the updated version of Contract Standing Orders was adopted.

12.

RIPA update

At the meeting of 18 January 2018, Members agreed to receive an update on RIPA activity throughout the year (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act). The RIPA Senior Responsible Officer advised that there had been no requests for RIPA authorisation since the last committee.

 

Minutes:

The RIPA Senior Responsible Officer advised that there had been no requests for RIPA authorisation since the last committee.

13.

Audit and Governance Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Minutes:

RECOMMENDED that;

Members note the contents of the Committee Forward Plan for 2022/23.

 

Items to be considered at the September 2022 committee included:

·        Audit Committee Update

·        External Audit Plan 2021/22

·        Review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance

·        RIPA update

·        Strata Annual Internal Audit report

·        Internal Audit Activity – Quarter 2 2021/22

·        Partnership Register