Agenda and decisions
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Contact: Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk 01462 474655
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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: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Stewart Willoughby and Steven Patmore.
Having given due notice, Councillor Elizabeth Dennis substituted for Councillor Willoughby. |
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MINUTES - 25 MARCH 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 25 March 2026. Decision: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 25 March 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. |
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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. |
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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. |
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public. Decision: There was no public participation at this meeting. |
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EXTERNAL AUDIT PLAN AND STRATEGY 2025-26 REPORT OF KPMG
To receive the Audit Plan and Strategy for the year ending 31 March 2026. Decision: RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the External Audit Plan and Strategy 2025-26. |
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SIAS ANNUAL ASSURANCE STATEMENT AND INTERNAL AUDIT ANNUAL REPORT 2025-26 REPORT OF THE SHARED INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE (SIAS)
To receive the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Annual Report for 2025/26. Decision: RESOLVED: That the Committee:
(1) Noted the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Annual Report.
(2) Noted the results of the self-assessment required by the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP).
(3) Approved the Internal Audit Charter for 2026/27.
(4) Received assurance from management that the scope and resources for internal audit were not subject to inappropriate limitations for 2025/26. |
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DRAFT ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2025/26 AND ACTION PLAN FOR 2026/27 REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITIES MANAGER
For the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee to review the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for the year 2025/26. The Statement reviews the Council’s governance arrangements for the 2025/26 period. It also includes a proposed Action Plan to update/improve those arrangements for the next financial year (2026/27). Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: That the Committee reviewed and commented on the draft Annual Governance Statement and Action Plan at Appendix A.
REASONS FOR DECISION:
(1) The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) must be considered and approved by this Committee before the approval of the Statement of Accounts under Regulation 6(4)(a) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (‘AAR’) 2015/234. The Council is required to publish a draft AGS alongside publishing its draft Statement of Accounts, which it needs to do by the end of June.
(2) The Committee is the legal body with responsibility for approval of the AGS.
(3) Reporting the draft AGS and Action Plan at this stage provides an opportunity for the Committee to assess and comment on the draft, before it is finalised and brought back for approval. |
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REVENUE BUDGET OUTTURN 2025/26 (FINAL) REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet of the summary position on revenue income and expenditure at the end of the financial year 2025/26. Additional documents: Decision: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Finance, Audit and Risk Committee comments on the assumptions and information contained within the report, in the context that Cabinet agrees that:
(1) That Cabinet note the report.
(2) That Cabinet approves a decreased of £1.385million in the 2025/26 net General Fund expenditure, as identified in section 8, to a total of £21.400million.
(3) That Cabinet approves the changes to the 2026/27 General Fund budget, as identified in table 4 and paragraph 8.3, a total £651k increase in net expenditure.
That Cabinet recommend to Full Council:
(4) That Council approves the net transfer from earmarked reserves, as identified in table 9, of £4.925million.
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) Changes to the Council’s balances are monitored and approved. |
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2025-26 YEAR END REPORT ON RISK MANAGEMENT GOVERNANCE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
This report provides an update on the effectiveness of the Risk Management governance arrangements at the Council. Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: That the Committee commented on the Risk Management Governance update, as attached at Appendix A.
RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Cabinet refer the Risk Management Governance update to Full Council.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To provide assurance that the Council is effectively managing risk. The Council’s Risk Management Strategy details that this annual review should be presented to Council. Cabinet have responsibility for the management of risk. |
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CAPITAL END OF YEAR REVIEW 2025/26 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To consider the Capital End of Year Outturn Review. Additional documents: Decision: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Finance, Audit and Risk Committee comments on the assumptions and information within this report, in the context that Cabinet agrees that:
(1) Cabinet notes expenditure of £22.002million in 2025/26 on the capital programme, paragraph 8.3 refers.
(2) Cabinet approves the adjustments to the capital programme for 2026/27 as a result of the revised timetable of schemes and other adjustments detailed in table 2, increasing the estimated spend by £1.950million.
(3) Cabinet notes the position of the availability of capital resources, as detailed in table 4 paragraph 8.7 and the requirement to keep the capital programme under review for affordability.
(4) Cabinet approves the application of £1.057million of capital receipts/set aside towards the 2025/26 capital programme, paragraph 8.7 refers.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure the capital programme is fully funded. |
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TREASURY MANAGEMENT END OF YEAR REVIEW 2025/26 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To consider the Treasury Management End of Year Review.
Additional documents: Decision: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Finance, Audit and Risk Committee comments on the assumptions and information within this report, in the context that Cabinet agrees that:
(1) Cabinet is asked to note the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of March 2026.
(2) Cabinet is asked to recommend this report to Council and ask Council to:
a. Approve the actual 2025/26 prudential and treasury indicators as detailed in Appendix B. b. Note the annual Treasury Management Review for 2025/26 (Appendix B).
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: 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.
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FINANCE, AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 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
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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. The Chair advised Members to contact him outside of the meeting if there were any suggested topics. |