Agenda

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 January 2026.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

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

Report of Assistant Director of Human Resources

Purpose of report

To provide the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee with the Council’s Health and Safety performance for Quarter 3 of the 2025/26 financial year.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1     To review and note the content of the report

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To update the Committee with details of Risk Based Verification (RBV) policy and to seek approval for the reviewed RBV policy for 2026/27.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1    To note the contents of the report.

1.2    To approve the RBV policy for the financial year 2026/27 (Appendix 1 to the report).

Report of Head of Chief Executive’s Office

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 Quarter 3 2025-26.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report presents the draft annual report of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee for the year 2025/26. It has been prepared to enable the committee to demonstrate to Council how it has fulfilled its terms of reference.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1         Review the draft annual report, agree any required amendments to its content, and request officers to finalise it accordingly, in preparation for the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee Chair’s presentation to Council.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance, (S151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report provides the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee with an update on delivery of the internal audit work programme for 2025/26.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1           Note the progress made in delivering the 2025/26 internal audit work programme.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report presents the programme of internal audit work to be undertaken in in 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1       Approve the 2026/27 audit work programme and note the indicative 2027/28 internal audit work programme.

Report of Assistant Director Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report presents an update on counter fraud work undertaken so far in 2025/26

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1     Note the counter fraud progress report

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report presents the programme of internal audit work to be undertaken in 2026/27.

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1       Note the counter fraud plan.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To ask the Committee to note the final 2024/25 Statement of Accounts and the changes that have been made since the draft version which was brought to the Committee at its July 2025 meeting.

Recommendations

The Accounts Audit and Risk Committee resolves to:

1.1           Note the final 2024/25 Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and the associated changes between draft and final version.

1.2           Note the final letter of representation for 2024/25 (Appendix 2).

1.3           Note the final Auditor’s Annual Report (Appendix 3) and Audit Completion Report (Appendix 4) from the council’s external auditors, Bishop Fleming.

Report of Assistant Director Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To receive the External Audit Plan for 2025/26 from the Council’s external auditors, Bishop Fleming LLP.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1     To note the External Audit Plan for 2025/26 (Appendix 1).

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To provide information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2025-26 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

To demonstrate that all treasury management activities undertaken during the reporting period complied with the CIPFA Code of Practice and the council’s approved Treasury Management Strategy.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

1.1     To note the contents of this Treasury Management Performance Report.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To ask the Committee to review and approve the Accounting Policies for inclusion in the 2025/26 Statement of Accounts, which are due to be published by 30 June 2026. The council is required to set Accounting Policies each year, setting out the specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied in preparing and presenting the financial statements.

Recommendations

The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves:

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

Committee dates for the 2026/27 municipal year (all Wednesday, 6.30pm): 17 June 2026; 22 July 2026; 30 September 2026; 25 November 2026; 13 January 2027; 17 March 2027.

It is mandatory for AARC members to attend training each municipal year before attending a Committee meeting. Training for the 2026/27 municipal year is scheduled for 5.45pm – 6.15pm on Wednesday 17 June, in person for AARC members and hybrid for non-AARC Members.