Agenda and decisions


Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday 27 September 2023 6.30 pm

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

Contact: Natasha Clark and David Rogers, Democratic and Elections  Email: democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk, 01295 221534

Media

Items
No. Item

2.

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:

3.

Petitions and Requests to Address the Meeting

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

Additional documents:

4.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 223 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 July 2023.

Additional documents:

5.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Additional documents:

6.

Statement of Accounts 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 379 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance

 

 

Purpose of report

 

To ask Members to note the draft statement of accounts for 2021/22 and the draft Audit Results Report of the external auditors.  The technical changes to the statement of accounts between the draft published in July 2022 and this version are detailed in the report.  The audit is not yet complete, but no further material changes to the statement are anticipated.  A draft of the Letter of Representation has also been provided for the Committee to note.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended to:

 

1.1         Note the revised Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement (CIES) at Appendix 1 and Balance Sheet at Appendix 2 in comparison to the published Draft Statement of Accounts 2021/22 (Appendix 3) and the documents be endorsed along with necessary changes to supporting statements and notes.

 

1.2         Agree that, once the final audit opinion is received, the Assistant Director 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 make any further material changes to the accounts agreed with the auditors and sign the accounts.  Any further changes will be brought to the Committee’s attention.

 

1.3         Agree that the Assistant Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), can make any further changes to the letters of representation agreed with the auditors that may arise during completion of the audit. Any further changes will be brought to the Committee’s attention.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)  That the revised Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement (CIES) (annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) and Balance Sheet (annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) in comparison to the published Draft Statement of Accounts 2021/22 (annex to the minutes as set out in the minute book) be noted and the documents be endorsed along with necessary changes to supporting statements and notes.

 

(2)  That it be agreed that, once the final audit opinion is received, the Assistant Director 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 make any further material changes to the accounts agreed with the auditors and sign the accounts. 

 

(3)  That it be agreed that the Assistant Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), can make any further changes to the letters of representation agreed with the auditors that may arise during completion of the audit.

 

7.

External Audit update

Verbal update from the External Auditor.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)        That the verbal update be noted.

8.

Internal Audit Progress Report 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 375 KB

Report of the Assistant Director of Finance

 

 

Purpose of report

 

 

The report presents the Internal Audit progress report for 2023/24. Two audits have now been completed: Community Development Projects and Climate, both with overall conclusions of Amber. Community Development Projects has been finalised and the executive summary is included within this report. The plan to address the actions required have been agreed with senior management and implementation of those actions are in progress. The audit of Climate is at draft report stage and the action plan is currently being agreed with senior management. The executive summary from the audit will be brought in the next update to the committee. There are three audits currently being undertaken and the remaining three are planned in for later in the year.

 

The implementation status of previously agreed management actions continues to be positive across the organisation, with good rates of implementation and evidence that other actions are being actively progressed.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1         To note the progress with the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan and the outcome of the completed audits.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

(1)       That the Internal Audit Progress Report 2023/24 be noted.

9.

Risk Monitoring Report July 2023 pdf icon PDF 233 KB

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 meeting is recommended:

 

1.1      To note the Risk Monitoring Report for July 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

(1)       That the Risk Monitoring Report July 2023 be noted.

 

10.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 390 KB

Report of the Monitoring Officer

 

Purpose of report

 

To provide Council with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s annual report on Cherwell District Council for the financial year 2022/23.

 

Recommendations

            

The meeting is recommended:

 

1.1       To receive the report and comment on the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Cherwell District Council for 2022/23.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

(1)       That the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report 2022/23 be noted.

 

11.

Urgent Business

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

 

Additional documents:

12.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To consider and review the Work Programme.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

(1)       That the Work Programme be noted.