Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Tom Wren and Mr Geoff Gibbs (Independent Co-opted Non-voting Member).

There were no declarations of interest.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

It was moved, seconded and, following a vote, RESOLVED that Councillor John Gardner be elected as Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 28 March 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 28 March 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Committee, as agreed by the Annual Council meeting on 25 May 2022.

The Committee received a tabled set of revised Terms of Reference, which contained minor amendments.

It was RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee, as agreed by the Annual Council meeting on 25 May 2022, and with the minor amendments as per the version tabled at the meeting, be noted.

To receive a verbal update from Ernst & Young regarding progress on completion of the 2019/20 external audit of SBC accounts; and on the programme of work for the 2020/21 accounts.

The Committee received a verbal update from Ernst & Young in respect of the 2019/20 and 2020/21 External audit of SBC accounts.

It was RESOLVED that the verbal update from Ernst & Young regarding the 2019/20 and 2020/21 External audit of SBC accounts be noted.

To consider the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Annual Report 2021/22 prepared by SIAS.

The SIAS Client Audit Manager presented a report in respect of the SIAS Annual Assurance Statement and Annual Report 2021/22.

In response to a number of Member questions, the SIAS Client Audit Manager stated that:

·            he accepted that the report was of a technical nature, and would endeavour to remove as many technical terms as possible from future versions;

·            the efficiency/effectiveness of audits generally depended on the adequacy of audit fieldwork, which was led by an evidence-based approach.  Audits were also subject to an internal quality review, as were any judgements made;

·            in Paragraph 1.3 of the report, the phrase “business as usual” referred to the situation going forward, rather than suggesting that the Council had returned to its pre-pandemic position;

·            he would ensure that the abbreviations “C, H, M and NA” shown in the Audit Plan (Appendix A) were explained earlier in the document in future versions; and

·            in Paragraph 3.5 of the report, the Landlord Health and Safety Follow up audit did include Council tenanted and leasehold properties.  It covered areas of building compliance, such as gas, electrical and water safety.

In relation to the cancelled IT Resilience audit, the Strategic Director (CF) advised that it was hoped that the resilience of the shared IT service would be addressed via the recently established Joint SBC/EHC ICT Executive Committee.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Annual Report 2021/22 be noted.

2.          That the results of the self-assessment required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) be noted.

3.          That the SIAS Audit Charter, as attached at Appendix D to the report, be approved.

4.          That it be confirmed that the scope and resources for internal audit were no subject to inappropriate limitations in 2021/22.

To consider the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 and Local Code of Corporate Governance.

The Corporate Performance and Improvement Officer presented Annual Governance Statement (AGS) and Local Code of Corporate Governance for 2021/22.

In response to a Member’s question, the Strategic Director (CF) commented that the determination of what was in the “public interest” in terms of the AGS related to ensuring that the Council had the best possible governance principles in place to act in residents’ best interests, including appropriate and robust controls, whilst recognising that actions could be implemented to achieve continuous improvement.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the changes to the Council’s Local Code of Corporate Governance, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

2.          That the Council’s 2021/22 Annual Governance Statement, as attached at Appendix 2 to the report, be recommended for approval by the Statement of Accounts Committee.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.          That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.          That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.         Under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 - 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.          Members considered the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determined that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 28 March 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 28 March 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the latest Strategic Risk Register for Stevenage Borough Council and developments on risk management issues.

The Corporate Performance and Improvement Officer presented a report providing the Quarter 4 2021/22 (January to March 2022) update in respect of the Strategic Risk Register.

The Corporate Performance and Improvement Officer, assisted by the Strategic Director (CF), responded to a number of questions raised by Members on the report.

It was RESOLVED that the latest Strategic Risk Register, as set out at Appendix A1 to the report, be noted.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.