Agenda and decisions

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 January 2024.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

To seek approval of the reviewed Risk Based Verification (RBV) Policy for 2024/25

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1         To note the contents of the report.

To approve the Risk Based Verification Policy for the financial year 2024/2025, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report.

Resolved

(1)           That the report be noted.

(2)           That the Risk Based Verification Policy for the financial year 2024/2025 be approved.

Verbal update from Head of Finance/Deputy S151 Officer.

Resolved

(1)           That the verbal update be noted.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

This report presents a summary of activity against the Annual Plan for the Counter-Fraud service at CDC for 2023/24, which was previously presented to the Accounts, Audit & Risk July 2023 committee. The Plan supports the Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy by ensuring that the Council has in place proportionate and effective resources and controls to prevent and detect fraud as well as investigate those matters that do arise.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee resolves:

1.1         Comment and note the summary of activity against the Annual Counter Fraud Plan for 2023/24.

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, the summary of activity against the Annual Counter Fraud Plan for 2023/24 be noted.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

The report presents the draft report of the Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee resolves:

1.1         To review the draft report, agree any amendments and finalise in preparation for presentation to Council by the Chair of the Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee.

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, it be agreed that the draft Annual Report of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee be finalised in preparation for presentation to Council by the Chair of the Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee.

Report of Assistant Director Customer Focus.

Purpose of report

To update the committee on how well the council is managing its Strategic Risks. 

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee resolves:

1.1         To note the Risk Monitoring Report for January 2024.

Resolved

(1)           That the Risk Monitoring Report for January 2024 be noted.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

To ask the Committee to note the final audit results and annual report of the council’s external auditors in relation to the 2021/22 statement of accounts.  To also note the final Letter of Representation and the final 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         Note the final 2021/22 Audit Results Report (Appendix 1).

1.2         Note the final 2021/22 Annual Audit Report of the External Auditor (Appendix 2)

1.3         Note the final Letter of Representation (Appendix 3)

1.4         Note the final Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 (Appendix 4)

Resolved

(1)           That the final 2021/22 Audit Results Report be noted.

(2)           That the final 2021/22 Annual Audit Report of the External Auditor be noted.

(3)           That the final Letter of Representation be noted.

(4)           That the final Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 be noted.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

To provide an opportunity for review of the draft 2022/23 Statement of Accounts which were published on 2 February 2024.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk committee resolves:

1.1         To note the report and publication of the draft statement of accounts 2022/23 (Appendix 1), and raise any queries on the draft statement of accounts.

1.2         To note the current consultations from Central Government to implement ‘backstop’ dates to combat the backlog of outstanding audits across England.

Resolved

(1)           That the report and publication of the draft statement of accounts 2022/23 be noted.  

(2)           That the current consultations from Central Government to implement ‘backstop’ dates to combat the backlog of outstanding audits across England be noted.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance.

Purpose of report

To ask the Committee to review and approve the Accounting Policies for inclusion in the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts which are due to be published by 31 May 2024. The council is required to set accounting policies which set out the specific principles, bases, conventions, rules, and practices applied by an authority in preparing and presenting financial statements.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1    To approve the accounting policies as recommended by the Chief Finance Officer (Appendix 1).

Resolved

(1)           That the accounting policies as recommended by the Chief Finance Officer be approved.

Report of Monitoring Officer & Assistant Director of Law & Governance.

Purpose of report

To consider an update on actions from the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2022/2023.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee is recommended to:

1.1         Consider and comment on the update on the actions arising from the Annual Governance Statement 2022/2023.

Resolved

(1)           That, having given due consideration, the update on the actions arising from the Annual Governance Statement 2022/2023 be noted.

To consider and review the Work Programme.

Resolved

(1)           That the work programme update be noted.