Agenda and decisions

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday, 9th September, 2026 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - District Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth, SG6 3JF. View directions

Contact: Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk 01462 474655

Media

Items
No.	Item
1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting. Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That Councillor Stewart Willoughby be elected as Chair for this meeting of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chris Lucas, Sarah Lucas and Vijaiya Poopalasingham. Having given due notice, Councillor Elizabeth Dennis substituted for Councillor Sarah Lucas, and Councillor Clare Billing substituted for Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham.
2.	MINUTES - 10 JUNE 2026 PDF 205 KB To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 10 June 2026. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 10 June 2026, as amended, be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.
3.	NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency. The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered. Decision: There was no other business notified.
4.	CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote. Decision: (1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded. (2) The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question. (3) The Chair advised that section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting.
5.	PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public. Decision: There was no public participation at this meeting.
6.	EXTERNAL AUDIT - 2025/26 VFM RISK ASSESSMENT PDF 347 KB REPORT OF KPMG To receive VFM Risk Assessment for the year ending 31 March 2026. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee noted the External Audit 2025/26 VFM Risk Assessment.
7.	EXTERNAL AUDIT - REBUILDING ASSURANCE UPDATE PDF 325 KB REPORT OF KPMG To receive the Rebuilding Assurance Update. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee noted the External Audit Rebuilding Assurance Update.
8.	SAFS ANNUAL REPORT 2025/26 PDF 790 KB REPORT OF THE SHARED ANTI-FRAUD SERVICE (SAFS) A report providing details of the work undertaken by the Council and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to protect the Council against the threat of fraud and the delivery of the Council’s Anti-Fraud Action Plan for 2025/26. Additional documents: App 1. SAFS Annual Report 2025-26 Public , item 8. PDF 2 MB Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee noted: (1) The activity undertaken by the Shared Anti-Fraud Services to deliver the 2025/26 Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council. (2) All Anti-fraud activity undertaken by Officers and SAFS to protect the Council against fraud in 2025/26. (3) The additional Shared Anti-Fraud Service Annual Report (Appendix 1). *REASON FOR DECISIONS:* This report provides details of the work undertaken by the Council and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) to protect the Council against the risk of fraud and delivery of the Council’s Anti-Fraud Plan for 2025/2026.
9.	SAFS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27 PDF 359 KB REPORT OF THE SHARED ANTI-FRAUD SERVICE (SAFS) To review the progress and delivery of the Anti-Fraud plan 2026/27. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee noted the progress by Officers and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to deliver the Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council. *REASON FOR DECISION:* This progress report provides details of the work undertaken by the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) and Council Officers to protect the Council against the threat of fraud and the delivery of the Council’s Anti-Fraud Action Plan for 2026/27.
10.	SIAS ANNUAL REPORT 2025/26 PDF 858 KB REPORT OF THE SHARED INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE A report providing details of the work undertaken by the Council and the Shared Internal Audit Service for 2025/26. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee noted the SIAS Annual Report 2025/26.
11.	SIAS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27 PDF 511 KB REPORT OF THE SHARED INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE To receive the Internal Audit Service progress report 206/27 of the SIAS. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee: (1) Noted the SIAS Progress Report for the period to 25 August 2026. (2) Noted the implementation status of the reported high-priority recommendations. (3) Noted the Global Internal Audit Standards External Quality Assessment Briefing Paper. (4) Approved the amendment to the Audit Charter. *REASON FOR DECISION:* To report progress made by the SIAS in delivering the Council’s Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 as 25 August 2026.
12.	FRAUD PREVENTION POLICY PDF 115 KB View the background to item 12. View the decision for item 12. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES To update Cabinet on progress with the Anti-fraud policy update. Additional documents: Appendix 1 Revised Fraud Prevention Policy , item 12. PDF 152 KB Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Committee commented on the revised Fraud Prevention policy (Appendix 1) before it was adopted. *REASON FOR DECISION:* The changes to the policy help the Council manage the risks in relation to the new legislation (Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act). Allowing the Committee to comment on the revised strategy supports their governance role and is in line with their terms of reference.
13.	FIRST QUARTER REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING 2026/27 PDF 261 KB View the background to item 13. View the decision for item 13. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES To inform Cabinet of the summary position on revenue income and expenditure forecasts for the financial year 2026/27, as at the end of the first quarter. Decision: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: (1) That Cabinet note this report. (2) That Cabinet approves the changes to the 2026/27 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, an £826k decrease in net expenditure. (3) That Cabinet notes the changes to the 2027/28 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a total £387k increase in net expenditure. These will be incorporated in the draft revenue budget for 2027/28. (4) That Cabinet approve the debt write-off as detailed in paragraph 8.19.3. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budgetary framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process. (2) To comply with the financial regulations in relation to debt write-offs.
14.	FIRST QUARTER CAPITAL BUDGET MONITORING REVIEW 2026/27 PDF 150 KB View the background to item 14. View the decision for item 14. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES To update Cabinet on progress with delivering the Capital Budget Monitoring for 2026/27, as at the end of June 2026. Additional documents: Appendix 1 FIRST QUARTER CAPITAL BUDGET MONITORING REVIEW 2026/27 , item 14. PDF 301 KB Decision: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: (1) That Cabinet notes the forecast expenditure of £13.570M in 2026/27 on the capital programme, paragraph 8.3 refers. (2) That Cabinet approves the adjustments to the capital programme for 2027/28, as a result of the revised timetable of schemes detailed in table 2 and 3, increasing the estimated spend by £0.67M. (3) That Cabinet notes the position of the availability of capital resources, as detailed in table 4 paragraph 8.6 and the requirement to keep the capital programme under review for affordability. *REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:* Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure the capital programme is fully funded.
15.	FIRST QUARTER TREASURY MANAGEMENT REVIEW 2026/27 PDF 146 KB View the background to item 15. View the decision for item 15. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES To update Cabinet on progress with delivering the Treasury Strategy for 2026/27, as at the end of June 2026. Additional documents: Appendix 1 FIRST QUARTER TREASURY MANAGEMENT REVIEW 2026/27 , item 15. PDF 535 KB Decision: *RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:* That Cabinet notes the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of June 2026 and as set out in Appendix 1. *REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION:* To ensure the Council’s continued compliance with CIPFA’s code of practice on Treasury Management and the Local Government Act 2003 and that the Council manages its exposure to interest and capital risk.
16.	CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT PROCUREMENT RULES PDF 212 KB View the background to item 16. View the decision for item 16. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES To update Cabinet on changes to the Contract Procurement Rules. Decision: *RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:* That the changes to the Council’s Procurement Rules detailed in this report are adopted. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION: (1) The increase in the threshold for single quotes reflects the impact of inflation and that not changing them creates additional work for Officers. (2) The introduction of geographical and supplier type restrictions gives the opportunity for procurements to be better aligned with policy objectives.
17.	EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC To consider passing the following: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). Decision: *RESOLVED:* That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).
18.	PART 2 MINUTES - 19 JUNE 2024 View the reasons why item 18. is restricted To take as read and approve as a true record the Part 2 minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 19 June 2024. Decision: *RESOLVED:* That the Part 2 Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 June 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.
19.	POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS The Chair to lead a discussion regarding possible agenda items for future meetings. Decision: The Chair led a discussion regarding possible agenda items for future meetings and no items were suggested.