Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Guest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Finance Committee held on 23^rd March 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the  Audit and Finance Committee held on 23 March 2023 were approved as a true record and be signed by the Chairman.

To receive and record any declarations of interests from Members present.

There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

Report number HBC/016/2023 attached.

Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Audit Charter 2023-24, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.

Mr Harvey and the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee

The Internal Audit Charter formally defined the purpose, authority, and responsibilities for internal audit activity.

RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Charter 2023 -24 be approved.

Report number HBC/017/2023 attached.

Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.

Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.

The Internal Audit Plan provided the mechanism through which the Chief Internal Auditor could ensure the most appropriate use of internal audit resources to provide a clear statement of assurance on risk management, internal control and governance arrangements.

RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.

Report number HBC/018/2023 attached.

Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Report for 22/23, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.

Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.

With regard to the debt management audit, which concluded with a “limited Assurance Opinion”, Mr Pink outlined measures being taken, including the adoption of a debt management policy (see Minute 17), to ensure the assurance opinions for this service received at least a “reasonable” level during 2023/24.

RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.

Report number HBC/019/2023 attached.

Councillor Bowdell, Cabinet Lead for Finance introduced the draft Annual Statement, and gave Members of the Committee an opportunity to comment on it prior to the final version coming for approval alongside the Statement of Accounts 2022/23.

RESOLVED that the submitted Annual Governance Statement 2022-23 be approved for inclusion into the draft Statement of Accounts 2022-23.

Report number HBC/020/2023 attached.

Councillor Bowdell, Cabinet Lead for Finance introduced the Corporate Governance and Risk Policy, which incorporated  the Local Code of Corporate Governance.

RESOLVED that:

a.                  the Corporate Governance & Risk Policy be approved;

b.                  the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved; and

c.         the Risk Management Framework and the latest top corporate risks as per the Corporate Risk Register be noted.

Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer, advised the Committee on how the national shortage of auditors was affecting the external audit reports and the publishing of the Council’s Statement of Accounts.

RESOLVED that the verbal report be noted.

Report number HBC/021/2023 attached.

Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer, introduced the debt management policy and answered questions from Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the submitted debt management policy be approved.