Agenda and decisions

Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday 25 September 2024 6.30 pm

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

Contact: Patrick Davis, 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 227 KB To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17July 2024. Additional documents: Webcast for 4.
5.	Chairman's Announcements To receive communications from the Chairman. Additional documents: Webcast for 5.
6.	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 6.
7.	Risk Monitoring Report - Q1 2024-2025 PDF 236 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 Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee resolves: 1.1 To note the Risk Monitoring Report for Quarter 1 2024-25. Additional documents: Appendix 1 Leadership Risk Register Q1 2024_25 , item 7. PDF 556 KB Webcast for 7. Decision: Resolved (1) That the Risk Monitoring Report for Quarter 1 2024-25 be noted.
8.	External Audit Update 2022-2023 PDF 270 KB Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) Purpose of report To update the committee on developments in relation to the proposed audit backstop in relation to the 2022/23 statement of accounts, note the draft Letter of Representation, and to seek delegated authority to finalise the accounts with the auditors by the backstop date for 2022/23’s accounts. Recommendations The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves: 1.1 To note the updated dates proposed by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government for the audit backstop and the impact of this proposal on the external audit of the council’s financial statements. 1.2 To note the draft Letter of Representation for 2022/23 (Appendix 3) 1.3 To agree that, once the final audit opinion for 2022/23 is received, the Assistant Director Finance (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the accounts agreed with the auditors and sign the accounts. Any further changes will be brought to the Committee’s attention at its next meeting following the signing. 1.4 To agree that the Assistant Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the letter 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 at its next meeting following the signing. Additional documents: Appendix 1 - Local Audit - Letter to councils from Minister Jim McMahon , item 8. PDF 143 KB Appendix 2 - Ernst & Young Letter to S151 Officers , item 8. PDF 593 KB Appendix 3 - Draft Letter of Representation , item 8. PDF 184 KB Webcast for 8. Decision: Resolved (1) That the updated dates proposed by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government for the audit backstop and the impact of this proposal on the external audit of the council’s financial statements be noted. (2) That the draft Letter of Representation for 2022/23 (Appendix 3) be noted. (3) That the Assistant Director Finance (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Chair of the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the accounts agreed with the auditors and sign the accounts and it be noted that any further changes would be brought to the Committee’s attention at its next meeting following the signing. (4) That the Assistant Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee (or Deputy Chair in their absence), be authorised to make any further changes to the letter of representation agreed with the auditors that may arise during completion of the audit and it be noted that any further changes would be brought to the Committee’s attention at its next meeting following the signing.
9.	External Audit Update 2023-2024 Verbal update from the Head of Finance (Deputy Section 151 Officer). Additional documents: Webcast for 9. Decision: Resolved (1) That the External Audit 2023-24 update be noted.
10.	Monitoring Officer Report including LGSCO Ombudsman Annual Report PDF 283 KB Report of Assistant Director Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer Purpose of report To provide the Committee an annual report on matters relating to standards and conduct of Members within the Cherwell District at District and Parish level, complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman and other matters for the municipal year of 2023/2024. Recommendations The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee resolves: 1.1 To note the content of the report, which will also be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils in the district for information. Additional documents: Appendix 1 - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report 2023_2024 , item 10. PDF 215 KB Webcast for 10. Decision: Resolved (1) That the Monitoring Officer report including the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report be noted and it be noted it would be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils in the district for information.
11.	Work Programme PDF 75 KB To consider and review the Work Programme. Additional documents: Webcast for 11. Decision: Resolved (1) That the work programme update be noted.