Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Davis and Rees.

To confirm the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 21 September 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 21 September 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

There were no matters arising.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman expressed his sadness at the passing of Councillor Mackey and stated his gratitude for the work he had undertaken for the Committee.

The Committee considered the Annual Audit Letter 2015/2016 as presented by Ernst and Young LLP. Emma Bryant of Ernst and Young LLP joined the meeting for the debate on this item and answered members’ questions in connection with the report.

The Annual Audit letter summarised the findings from the 2015/16 audit. The letter gave an ‘Unqualified’ opinion on the Council’s financial statements and concluded that proper arrangements to secure value for money were in place.

During the course of the discussion, members requested further details on the bank reconciliation difference identified in the Annual Audit Letter.

RESOLVED that the Annual Audit Letter 2015/2016 from Ernst and Young LLP be noted.

To note the Internal Audit Progress Report.

The Committee considered the Internal Audit Progress Report presented by Antony Harvey and Amanda Chalmers of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership, who joined the meeting for the debate on this item and answered members’ questions in connection with the report.

The Committee were informed the work of Internal Audit was on track and there were no significant issues to be highlighted at this stage.

During the course of the discussion, members requested clarification on the overdue management actions relating to the Local Government Transparency Code 2015.

RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Progress Report be noted.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the Code of Conduct Policy was being updated and the review of the Constitution was on-going to ensure it remained fit for purpose.

The Committee were also informed that there were currently no outstanding Code of Conduct complaints.