Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To consider the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee for the 2021/22 Civic Year.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as attached at Appendix A, prior to consideration by Full Council, be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Committee to consider the report before it is presented to Full Council. To provide Full Council with assurance as to the effectiveness of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Audio Recording – 1:09:42

The Service Director – Resources presented the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as attached at Appendix A and highlighted points including:

·                The SIAS review of the effectiveness of audit and scrutiny committees in 2021 had a number of recommendations which were being actioned this year including the appointment of an Independent Member to the Committee; their appointment was due to be finalised at Full Council following the completion of all the necessary conflict of interest checks;

·                The Independent Member to be appointed worked for an audit firm (though not working with or near Local Government) and would assist the Committee in scrutinising the finance team and the reports presented to them;

·                The annual report covered the proposed work programme for the forthcoming year including options for training, regular and quarterly reports, and changes to the way that audit and governance are done at the Council.

The following Members asked questions and took part in discussion:

·                Councillor Clare Billing

·                Councillor Terry Tyler

·                Councillor Terry Hone

Councillor Ian Albert, Executive Member for Finance & IT, also participated.

In response to questions the Service Director – Resources advised that:

·                The issue of Council resilience in view of the rising cost of living and inflation generally would be considered under the Medium Term Financial Strategy and as a live issue would be kept in mind throughout the forthcoming year;

·                Options for training sessions included before committee meetings, during the day, or on entirely separate nights; in view of the fact that many members would not be able to make daytime sessions a mixture of the pre-committee and standalone sessions would be explored;

·                Substitute Members of this committee would be invited as standard and any other Members of Council wishing to attend would also be welcome.

It was:  

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as attached at Appendix A, prior to consideration by Full Council, be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Committee to consider the report before it is presented to Full Council. To provide Full Council with assurance as to the effectiveness of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.