Issue - meetings
Finance, Audit and Risk Commitee Annual Report
Meeting: 16/07/2026 - Council (Item 23)
23 FINANCE, AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 
PDF 105 KB
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
The Annual Report (attached at Appendix A) details the work undertaken by the Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) Committee over the last year (25/26) and describes the planned work for the coming year (26/27).
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That Council noted the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report.
REASON FOR DECISION: To provide Council with assurance as to the effectiveness of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 20 minutes 13 seconds
N.B. Councillor Dominic Griffiths entered the Chamber at 19:51.
Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham, as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, presented Referral 6D and the report entitled ‘Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report’ and advised that:
· It was important to recognise that there had been a period of transition for the Committee following his appointment as Chair and new Members joining the Committee in the new Civic Year, but the Committee had maintained a strong focus on its core responsibilities.
· Thanks were put on record to Councillor Sean Nolan for chairing the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee until January this year.
· This report provided an overview of the work undertaken in the previous Civic Year reflecting on their effectiveness and setting out priorities for the year ahead.
· Assurance was given to the Council that effective processes were in place.
· The Committee had overseen a wide range of important matters and timelines for those were outlined on the grid at page 48 of the Agenda Reports Pack.
· Significant corporate risks like Local Government Reorganisation and corporate capacity had continued to be monitored, and focus had been given to manage and identify risks like these.
· Discussion at the Committee had been constructive over the year, and Members had challenged and sought clarification appropriately while working together.
· The Work Programme remained comprehensive, and they would continue to oversee the audit process and monitor financial resilience and procurement arrangements when needed.
· Members would continue to receive appropriate training to strengthen their understanding of financial governance.
· It was hoped that Members from all political groups would attend Committee meetings this Civic Year as the Committee was stronger when every group was present.
· The Independent Member, Director – Resources, Shared Anti-Fraud Service, KPMG, Executive Member for Resources and Officers were thanked for their support.
· New Members and previous Members of the Committee were also thanked for their approach to matters.
Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham proposed the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Val Bryant.
As part of the debate, Councillor Paul Ward put on record his thanks to the Independent Member for their thorough work at Committee meetings.
Having been proposed and seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That Council noted the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report.
REASON FOR DECISION: To provide Council with assurance as to the effectiveness of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
Meeting: 10/06/2026 - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Item 13)
13 FINANCE, AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT PDF 116 KB
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
The Annual Report details the work undertaken by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee over the last year (2025/26) and describes the planned work for the coming year (2026/27).
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Committee commented on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report, attached at Appendix A.
(2) That the Committee delegated to the Director – Resources to make changes to the Annual Report from discussion of this item, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.
RECOMMENDED TO FULL COUNCIL: That the Committee recommend to Council that the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report, be noted.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION: 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
Minutes:
Audio recording – 2 hours 25 minutes 59 seconds
The Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report’ and highlighted that:
· The Annual Report provided detail on the work undertaken by this Committee in the previous year and looked ahead at planned work for the upcoming civic year.
· An introduction from Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham, as Chair since January 2026, had been included.
· The purpose of the report was to look at the Committee and its effectiveness.
· There were points for Members to consider highlighted in yellow in the draft version of the Annual Report and comments could be added before presenting at Full Council.
· There was a table showing the reports considered by the Committee in 2025/26 on page 198 of the reports pack, and this would be similar for 2026/27. However, there were likely to be additional items including updates to the Anti-Fraud Strategy and a potential review of Procurement Rules.
The following Members provided comments on the Annual Report:
· Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Elizabeth Dennis
The following comments were made on the Annual Report:
· That training on the following topics would be beneficial: Business Rates Retention, an overview of internal and external audit processes, funding settlements and what these mean for the Council and Treasury and Investment Strategies.
· Bitesize sessions on topics within local government finance would be useful and already existed within the resources provided by the Local Government Association.
· Whilst training should be primarily for Finance, Audit and Risk Committee members, it would be useful to offer more widely to all Members to empower others to make more meaningful contributions to discussions on financial matters.
· Session offered before the committee meeting were useful and these could be recorded and uploaded to GrowZone for Members unable to attend.
Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham proposed, as Chair, and Councillor Elizabeth Dennis seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Committee commented on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report, attached at Appendix A.
(2) That the Committee delegated to the Director – Resources to make changes to the Annual Report from discussion of this item, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.
RECOMMENDED TO FULL COUNCIL: That the Committee recommend to Council that the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report, be noted.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION: 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