Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors, Hollick, Surtees and Webber-Jones, with the following substitutions authorised in accordance with council procedure rule 10:

Councillor Green for Councillor Webber-Jones

Councillor R Allen for Councillor Surtees

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Sutton and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2024                    be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

There were no interests declared at this meeting.

Members are presented with the draft financial statements for 2023/24 and annual governance statement for 2023/24

Members were presented with the draft financial statements for 2023/24 and annual governance statement for 2023/24.

In response to questions from members it was confirmed that:

·         These were draft accounts that were not expected to change significantly

·         There were no management concerns from internal audit around the annual governance statement

·         The reason for the reference to the challenges faced by Leicestershire County Council’s financial pressures was because historically this had resulted in pressures being passed to HBBC for example the removal of recycling credits

·         HRA debtors were managed by the HRA recovery team and action was taken to ensure the areas were chased and recovered where possible

·         A Housing Strategy would be coming to members that would include information on the housing stock

·         An average of 4/5% interest was based on income moving forward in the short term but with a return to lower levels in the next 18 months to two years in line with BoE forecasts.

It was proposed by Councillor S Gibbens, seconded by Councillor Flemming, and

                        RESOLVED - that the draft financial statements and Annual                          Governance Statement for 2023/24 be approved.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were presented with this progress report and noted the deferral of the Leisure Centre audit to the 2024/25 internal audit plan.

In response to a question from members around the deferral of the leisure centre audit it was confirmed that it had been agreed with the service to defer this audit as there were ongoing projects that required focus for their resources.

It was proposed by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor C Allen, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were presented with this report that provided them with the assurances as to the adequacy and effectiveness of the key controls relating to Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Support.

In response to questions from members it was confirmed that:

·         The overall debt related to all three local authorities within the Partnership

·         The same audit report would be referred to all three authorities within the Partnership

·         Management Board received performance reports around council tax and overpayments recovery and had recently put in some additional actions to give members the assurance that this would be monitored.

It was proposed by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Williams, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

To inform members of the updated results of the 2022/23 NFI report and any other fraud issues affecting the council

Members were presented with this report that informed them of the updated results of the 2022/23 report on the National Fraud initiative and other fraud issues affecting the council.

It was proposed by Councillor S Gibbens, seconded by Councillor R Allen, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Members to agree if items are to be referred to Council

There were no specific items identified to be referred to council.

As part of the self assessment members suggested that audit committee minutes be on the council agenda and members are asked to consider this

As part of the self-assessment exercise that had been undertaken, members, had suggested that the audit committee minutes be put on the council agenda for all future meetings.

It was proposed by Councillor R Allen, seconded by Councillor C Allen, and

                        RESOLVED – that minutes of this meeting be reported to council                 for information purposes only to demonstrate the work of the audit                     committee and give an update to council.