Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Lambert, Surtees and C Allen, with the following substitutions authorised in accordance with procedure rule 10:

Councillor R Allen for Councillor Surtees.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Pendlebury and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2025                         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.

Presentation from Grant Thornton

A presentation was given to Members on the Counter Fraud Strategy overview by Grant Thornton that included a phased implementation summary, areas covered by HBBC’s Fraud Risk Register strategy, and what work they had covered so far.

In response to a question from members around the current indication of fraud within the council, officers confirmed that the fraud case previously reported to the committee was still being investigated by the Police and would be reported back to this committee on the conclusion of their findings.

In response to a question from members around reflections on the current levels of risk, Grant Thornton colleagues confirmed that procurement had been raised in a number of councils where there were some ongoing investigations. In addition, officers were seeing more AI fraud in the charity sector and in the NHS. They confirmed that there was usually well developed controls and structures in local authorities that were relatively tight and so there was a low level risk.

Members noted the presentation.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were presented with the Homelessness internal audit final report for 2024/2025 which had reviewed the adequacy and effectiveness of the key controls in place in relation to Homelessness.

The audit had reviewed the arrangements in place to reduce the level of homelessness and use of temporary accommodation.

In response to a question from members in terms of resources that the council had in order to deliver the assurance and challenges, officers confirmed that  demand continued to grow year on year, dealing with the most vulnerable people in society with complex needs. Resourcing was the biggest risk to the authority, and management had taken on board the recommendations and had already implemented 3 out of the 5 recommendations, and the other two were on schedule for completion.

It was proposed by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Webber-Jones and

                    RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were presented with the Fire Safety internal audit report for 2024/2025 that had assessed the design and effectiveness of the control framework in relation to fire safety.

The audit had reviewed the controls in place to ensure compliance with the relevant fire safety legislation for commercial premises and officers had confirmed that all the agreed actions had been implemented.

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

                        RESOLVED  - the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were presented with an update on the current position of the delivery of the internal audit plan dated 1 October 2025 that set out work completed and work still to do.

It was noted that the Capital Programme and IT Vulnerability Management reports had been issued in draft, and were awaiting management responses.

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

                    RESOLVED – the report be noted.

To present to members the financial settlement for 2024/25 and Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25

Members were presented with the unaudited Statement of Accounts for 2024/2025 and Annual Governance Statement for 2024/2025 that were currently subject to external audit.

It was agreed that an informal session would be arranged for members to go through this report with officers in detail.

It was proposed by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                    RESOLVED – the draft Financial Statements and Annual                          Governance Statement for 2024/2025 be approved.

Members to note the content of the report and consider actions needed

Members agreed that an informal session to go through the annual self-assessment for 2025 would be useful.

Members agreed to consider training and the next phase of the action plan in addition to the annual report to Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Webber-Jones and

                        RESOLVED – that the content of the report be considered along                         with all actions required to complete the next phase of the action                         plan.