Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors C Allen, Surtees and Pendlebury, 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 Flemming, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 225 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.

To inform members of HRA land that has not been included in the asset register

Members were presented with a report regarding HRA land that had not been included in the finance asset register. Officers had confirmed the sites had however been on other systems and that a reconciliation exercise was now taking place that would be completed by the middle of January 2026.

In response to a question from members, officers confirmed that they were satisfied that all garage sites were held within the system and that the  reconciliation work being carried out would be reported back to committee on completion.

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

                        RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

Update from the External Auditors

Members were presented with the report that had identified a significant risk relating to the completeness of HRA land on the finance asset register.

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

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Annual report to be presented by the External Auditors

Members were presented with this annual report that provided a summary of the findings and key issues arising out of their audit for 2024/25. The report met the requirements of the Code of Audit Practice and supporting guidance published by the National Audit Office and was required to be published by the Council alongside the statement of accounts.

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

                    RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditors

Members were presented with this final report on the Capital Programme for 2024/2025. The audit objective had been to assess the design and effectiveness of the control framework for managing the capital programme.

In response to questions from members, officers confirmed that there were not the same governance arrangements in place for the lower value schemes as a proportionate approach was taken. They also confirmed that discussions had taken place to ensure that smaller budget holders signed off all documentation appropriately in addition to tightening up on some of the administrative processes for project officers.

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

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

To provide members with an update of the work programme

Members noted the forward plan.