Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 September 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 September 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of the Executive Director – Finance and Governance

Purpose of report

To consider the Ernst and Young LLP Annual Audit Letter, which includes comments on the external audit of the 2017/18 Statement of Accounts. The report also present the CW Audit Internal Audit Progress Report 2018/19.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee is recommended to:

1.1      Consider the key issues raised in the letter (appendix 1).

1.2      Consider the key issues raised in the Internal Audit Report 2018/19 (Appendix 2).

Resolved

1.1       That having given due consideration the key issues raised in the Annual Audit Letter 2017/18 be noted.

1.2       That having given due consideration key issues raised in the Internal Audit Report 2018/19 be noted.

The Executive Director, Finance and Governance submitted a report which sought consideration of the Ernst and Young LLP Annual Audit Letter, which included comments on the external audit of the 2017/18 Statement of Accounts. The report also presented the CW Audit Internal Audit Progress Report 2018/19.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration the key issues raised in the Annual Audit Letter 2017/18 be noted.

(2)          That having given due consideration key issues raised in the Internal Audit Report 2018/19 be noted.

Report of Assistant Director: Performance and Transformation and Assistant Director: Finance and Governance

Purpose of report

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

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

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

1.2       To review the Leadership Risk Register and identify any issues for further consideration.

Resolved

1.1       That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

1.2       That having given due consideration, the Leadership Risk Register be noted and no issues be identified for further consideration.

The Assistant Director, Performance and Transformation and the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement submitted a report which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of each month.

Resolved

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

(2)          That having given due consideration, the Leadership Risk Register be noted and no issues be identified for further consideration.

Report of the Executive Director – Finance and Governance

Purpose of report

To receive information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2018/19 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the contents of the October 2018 Treasury Management Report.

Resolved

1.1       That the contents of the October 2018 Treasury Management Report be noted.

The Executive Director, Finance and Governance submitted a report which presented information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2018/19 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the October 2018 Treasury Management Report be noted.

To consider and note the work programme 2018/2019.

Resolved

1.1       That the work programme be noted

The Committee considered its work programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted

The following items contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3– Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

7 – Information relating to any action taken or to be taken, in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime

Members are reminded that whilst the following items have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraphs 3 and 7 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraphs 3 and 7 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt Report of the Senior Investigation Officer

Resolved

1.1      That the exempt report be noted.

The Senior Investigation Officer submitted an exempt report which provided 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.

Resolved

(1)          That the exempt report be noted.

Resolved

1.1      That the exempt appendix be noted.

Resolved

(1)           That the exempt appendix be noted.