Agenda, decisions and minutes


Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday 25 May 2022 6.30 pm

Venue: Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4AA

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

Media

Items
No. Item

3.

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.

4.

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.

5.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 214 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 March and of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 May 2022 (to follow)..

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 16 March 2022 and of the meeting of the Commiittee held on 18 May 2022 were agreed as a correct records and signed by the Chairman.

6.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no chairman’s announcements.

7.

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.

8.

2021/22 Accounting Policies pdf icon PDF 370 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance (S151)

 

Purpose of report

 

To ask the Committee to review and approve the Accounting Policies for inclusion in the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

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

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)             That having given due consideration, the accounting policies as approved by the Chief Finance Officer be approved.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Finance & S151 Officer submitted a report for the Committee to consider and approve the Accounting Policies for inclusion in the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts.

 

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the inflation rate currently being higher than the 6% predicted in the contingency budget for inflationary pressure throughout the medium term, the Assistant Director of Finance & S151 Officer advised that contract and services already purchased would not be affected by any increase at this time. Budget monitoring would begin in June and would be considered by the Budget Planning Committee.

 

The Strategic Business Finance Partner explained the asset devaluation of groups advising that the Council used a rolling 5 year asset valuation programme with 20% of different categories valued each year.

 

Resolved

 

(1)               That having given due consideration, the accounting policies as approved by the Chief Finance Officer be approved.

9.

Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 371 KB

Report of Interim Monitoring Officer

 

Purpose of report

 

To inform the Committee on the Annual Governance Review process and enable the Committee to fulfil is responsibilities associated with the publication of the Council’s Annual Governance Statement 2021/22

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       to approve the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22, subject to the Monitoring Officer making any necessary amendments in the light of comments made by the Committee, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Section 151 officer.

 

1.2       authorise the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to sign the Annual Governance Statement on behalf of Cherwell District Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That it be agreed that, subject to the Monitoring Officer making any necessary amendments in the light of comments made by the Committee, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Section 151 officer that the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 be approved.

 

(2)          That it be agreed that the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive be authorised to sign the Annual Governance Statement on behalf of Cherwell District Council.

Minutes:

The Interim Monitoring Officer submitted a report on the Annual Governance Review process to enable the Committee to fulfil is responsibilities associated with the publication of the Council’s Annual Governance Statement 2021/22.

 

The Interim Monitoring Officer highlighted an error in appendix 1 paragraph 27 “rating of compliance showing as Green for all of the 19 standards” should read “rating of compliance showing as Green for all of the 17 standards.”

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That it be agreed that, subject to the Interim Monitoring Officer making any necessary amendments in the light of comments made by the Committee, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Section 151 officer that the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 be approved.

 

(2)          That it be agreed that the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive be authorised to sign the Annual Governance Statement on behalf of Cherwell District Council.

10.

Local Code of Corporate Governance pdf icon PDF 364 KB

Report of Interim Monitoring Officer

 

Purpose of report

 

To provide an opportunity for the review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       To approve the Local Code of Corporate Governance (Appendix 1).

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)            That the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved.

Minutes:

The Interim Monitoring Officer submitted a report which provided an opportunity for the review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance.

 

The Interim Monitoring Officer confirmed that the final version would be amended to replace reference to “County” with “District” at Core Principle “E” of the Code.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved.

11.

Annual Report of the Chief Internal Auditor 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 491 KB

Report of the Chief Internal Auditor

 

Purpose of report

 

This is the annual report of the Chief Internal Auditor, summarising the outcome of the Internal Audit work in 2021/22, and providing an opinion on the Council's System of Internal Control.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended to:

 

1.1             Consider and endorse this annual report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)            That, having given due consideration, the report be endorsed

Minutes:

The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report that summarised the outcome of the Internal Audit work in 2021/22, and provided an opinion on the Council's System of Internal Control.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the report be endorsed

12.

Internal Audit Strategy and Plan 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 419 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance

 

Purpose of report

 

The report presents the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2022/23.

 

Recommendations

            

1.1     The meeting is recommended to note and comment on the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2022/23.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)            That the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2022/23 be noted.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Finance submitted a report which presented the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2022/23

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2022/23 be noted.

13.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 183 KB

To consider and review the Work Programme.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)            That the work programme be noted.

Minutes:

The Strategic Business Partner introduced the work programme and advised the committee that the training programme was under review.

 

Resolved

 

(1)          That the work programme be noted.