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: Webcast for 2.
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: Webcast for 3.
4.	Minutes PDF 223 KB To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 July 2023. Additional documents: Webcast for 4.
5.	Chairman's Announcements To receive communications from the Chairman. Additional documents: Webcast for 5.
6.	Statement of Accounts 2021/22 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: Appendix 1 – Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement - Revised , item 6. PDF 31 KB Appendix 2 – Balance Sheet – Revised , item 6. PDF 30 KB Appendix 3 - Draft Statement of Accounts 2021-22 , item 6. PDF 2 MB Appendix 4 - Draft Letter of Representations 2021-22 , item 6. PDF 352 KB Annex to Minutes - Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement - Revised , item 6. PDF 31 KB There are a further 2 documents.View the full list of documents for item 6. Webcast for 6. 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 View the background to item 7. View the decision for item 7. Verbal update from the External Auditor. Additional documents: Webcast for 7. Decision: Resolved (1) That the verbal update be noted.
8.	Internal Audit Progress Report 2023/24 PDF 375 KB View the background to item 8. View the decision for item 8. 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: Appendix 1 - Internal Audit Plan – Progress Report , item 8. PDF 186 KB Appendix 2 - Outstanding Management Actions , item 8. PDF 117 KB Appendix 3 – Executive Summaries of finalised audits , item 8. PDF 210 KB Webcast for 8. Decision: Resolved (1) That the Internal Audit Progress Report 2023/24 be noted.
9.	Risk Monitoring Report July 2023 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: Appendix 1 - Leadership Risk Register July 23 , item 9. PDF 220 KB Webcast for 9. Decision: Resolved (1) That the Risk Monitoring Report July 2023 be noted.
10.	Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report 2022/23 PDF 390 KB View the background to item 10. View the decision for item 10. 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: Appendix 1 - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review Letter , item 10. PDF 252 KB Appendix 2 - Summary of cases Investigated by LGSCO 22-23 , item 10. PDF 410 KB Webcast for 10. 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: Webcast for 11.
12.	Work Programme PDF 73 KB View the background to item 12. View the decision for item 12. To consider and review the Work Programme. Additional documents: Webcast for 12. Decision: Resolved (1) That the Work Programme be noted.