Agenda, decisions and minutes


Venue: Virtual meeting

Contact: Sharon Hickson, Democratic and Elections  Email: democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk, 01295 221554

Media

Items
No. Item

28.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

29.

Petitions and Requests to Address the Meeting

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

30.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 206 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 September 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record, to be signed by the Chairman in due course.

31.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no chairman’s announcements

32.

Urgent Business

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

33.

Monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report - Quarter 2 / September 2020 pdf icon PDF 919 KB

Report of Director of Finance, and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes

 

Purpose of report

 

This report summarises the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of September 2020.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       To note the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes, presented a report which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of September 2020.

 

The Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes informed members there had been one risk rating score change during September; L15 – Oxfordshire Growth Deal had decreased.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

34.

Review of Those Charged with Governance pdf icon PDF 356 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To set out the response to Ernst & Young (EY) regarding the review of management assurance.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended to:

 

1.1       Note the draft response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance at Appendix 1.

 

1.2       Agree that the Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee, make any further changes to the response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance at Appendix 1 that may arise as a result of the audit.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the draft response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

(2)          That it be agreed that the Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee, make any further changes to the response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) that may arise as a result of the audit.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance presented a report which set out the response to Ernst & Young (EY) regarding the view of management assurance.

 

The Director of Finance confirmed the wording in paragraph 8 in relation to significant parties, would be checked to ensure correctness.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the draft response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

 

(2)          That it be agreed that the Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee, make any further changes to the response relating to management assurances from Those Charged with Governance (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) that may arise as a result of the audit.

35.

External Audit - Annual Audit Opinion 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 356 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To receive a report setting out the External Audit Opinion for 2019/20.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended to:

 

1.1       Note the contents of the External Audit Opinion (ISA260) for 2019/20 from our External Auditors, Ernst & Young (EY).

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the External Audit Opinion (ISA260) for 2019/20 be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report which set out the External Audit Opinion for 2019/20.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the External Audit Opinion (ISA260) for 2019/20 be noted.

36.

Statement of Accounts Update pdf icon PDF 360 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To receive a report to ask Members to consider the following:

 

           Changes to be incorporated to the draft statement of accounts.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended to:

 

1.1      Agree that the Draft Statement of Accounts 2019/20 be endorsed, subject to the changes required in Appendix 2, and once the final audit opinion is received the Director of Finance (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in case the Chairman is unavailable) be authorised to sign the accounts and it be noted that if any material changes to the accounts are required, then an additional committee meeting would be convened to consider the changes.

 

1.2      Agree that the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in their absence), can make any further changes to the letters of representation that may arise during completion of the audit.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That subject to the changes required, agree that the Draft Statement of Accounts 2019/20 be endorsed and once the final audit opinion is received the Director of Finance (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in case the Chairman is unavailable) be authorised to sign the accounts and it be noted that if any material changes to the accounts are required, then an additional committee meeting would be convened to consider the changes.

 

(2)          That the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the letters of representation that may arise during completion of the audit.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report asking Members to consider  changes to be incorporated to the draft statement of accounts.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That subject to the changes required, agree that the Draft Statement of Accounts 2019/20 be endorsed and once the final audit opinion is received the Director of Finance (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in case the Chairman is unavailable) be authorised to sign the accounts and it be noted that if any material changes to the accounts are required, then an additional committee meeting would be convened to consider the changes.

 

(2)          That the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Vice Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the letters of representation that may arise during completion of the audit.

37.

2018/19 Audit Fee pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To make the Committee aware of the updated in the 2018/19 Audit Fee

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       Note the £33,977 audit fee for work over and above the 2018/19 scale fee.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the £33,977 audit fee for work over and above the 2018/19 scale fee be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report that made the Committee aware of the updates in the 2018/19 Audit Fee.

 

Members thanked Ernst & Young for the work carried out on the audit this year.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the £33,977 audit fee for work over and above the 2018/19 scale fee be noted.

38.

Treasury Management Report - Q2 (September 2020) pdf icon PDF 413 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To receive information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy and Prudential Indicators for 2020-21 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       To note the contents of the Q2 (September 2020) Treasury Management Report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the Q2 (September 2020) Treasury Management Report be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy and Prudential Indicators for 2020-21 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the contents of the Q2 (September 2020) Treasury Management Report be noted.

39.

Progress of Counter Fraud Service pdf icon PDF 362 KB

Report of the Senior Investigation Officer – Corporate Fraud Team

 

Purpose of report

 

The report provides an overview of the current progress of the Authority’s counter fraud response following the delegation of authority in July 2018 to Oxford City Council.

 

Recommendations

            

The Committee is recommended to:

 

1.1       Review and note the current performance of the Corporate Fraud team

 

1.2       Consider future work plans as described and the impact that this will have on future performance and income to the authority.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the current performance of the Corporate Fraud team be noted.

 

(2)          That after due consideration of the future work plans and the impact that this will have on future performance and income to the authority, the report be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report providing an overview of the current progress of the Authority’s counter fraud response following the delegation of authority in July 2018 to Oxford City Council.

 

The Senior Fraud Officer advised Members that the Fraud Team had been involved in the covid support grants payments to local businesses. The Team had investigated cases which had been referred as possibly fraudulent. Of these cases, four applicants had been interviewed and would be issued warning letters, one further applicant would be interviewed once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions had been lifted.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the current performance of the Corporate Fraud team be noted.

 

(2)          That after due consideration of the future work plans and the impact that this will have on future performance and income to the authority, the report be noted.

40.

Update on Counter-Fraud Arrangements for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 348 KB

Report of Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

This report presents the revised arrangements for Counter-Fraud, to become fully operational from April 2021/22.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       Comment and note the updated arrangements for Counter-Fraud for 2021/22. 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          The updated arrangements for Counter-Fraud for 2021/22 be noted.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report presenting the revised arrangements for Counter-Fraud, to become fully operational from April 2021/22.

 

The Assistant Director of Finance (OCC) updated members on the recruitment to the counter-fraud service. Two Counter Fraud Officers had been appointed and recruitment of the Intelligence & Data Officer would begin shortly. These appointments would ensure that the team was fully resourced by 1 April 2021.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          The updated arrangements for Counter-Fraud for 2021/22 be noted.

41.

Redmond Review into Local Government Audit pdf icon PDF 390 KB

Report of the Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

To update the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee on the outcome of the Redmond Review into Local Government Audit.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       To note the findings of the Redmond Review

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the findings of the Redmond Review be noted

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report updating the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee on the outcome of the Redmond Review into Local Government Audit.

 

In highlighting the recommendations set out as part of the review, the Director of Finance advised members that some of the recommendations would require Acts of Parliament before they could be adopted.

 

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the findings of the Redmond Review be noted

42.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To consider and review the Work Programme.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the work programme be noted.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the work programme for the remainder of 2019/20.

 

Members thanked the Finance department for the assistance given to External Auditors on the 2019/20 Statement of Accounts.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the work programme be noted.