Agenda and minutes

Governance and Audit Committee - Monday, 29th April, 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, The Rhadyr USK. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

2.

Public Open Forum

Governance and Audit Committee Public Open Forum Guidance

 

Our Governance and Audit Committee meetings are live streamed and a link to the live stream will be available on the meeting page of the Monmouthshire County Council website

 

If you would like to share your thoughts on any matters being discussed by Governance and Audit Committee, you may attend the meeting in person (or join remotely via Microsoft Teams), or submit written representations (via Microsoft Word, maximum of 500 words).

 

The deadline for submitting representations to the Council is 5pm three clear working days in advance of the meeting.  All representations received will be made available to the committee members prior to the meeting.

 

The amount of time afforded to each member of the public to speak is at the Committee Chair’s discretion.  We ask that contributions are no longer than 4 minutes.

If you would like to attend one of our meetings to speak under the Public Open Forum at the meeting, you will need to give three working days’ notice by contacting GACRegistertoSpeak@monmouthshire.gov

If you would like to suggest future topics for consideration by Governance and Audit Committee, please do so by emailing GACRegistertoSpeak@monmouthshire.gov.uk

 

 

Minutes:

No members of the public were present.

3.

To note the Action List from the previous meeting. pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Minutes:

The action list from the last meeting was noted.

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

 

1. Finance Team capacity: OPEN

2. People Strategy: OPEN

3. Freedom of Information, Data Protection and Data Subject Access Requests:

    Corporate risk control policies: CLOSED

4. MCC Statement of accounts/ISA260: OPEN

 

 

4.

Audit Wales Work Programme: Council Progress Update pdf icon PDF 520 KB

Minutes:

The Performance Analyst and Performance and Data Insight Manager presented the Audit Wales Work Programme: Council Progress Update followed by responses from the Audit Wales Engagement Director (Monmouthshire) and Senior Auditor.  Committee Members were then invited to comment and ask questions.

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As per the report recommendations:

 

1.     Members scrutinised the council’s response to the Audit Wales work programme, and sought assurance that adequate progress is being made.

 

2.     Members did not refer any issues contained within Audit Wales national studies to other committees for consideration where they identify there are findings of particular relevance to the council that need further scrutiny.

 

5.

Effectiveness of Strategic Risk Management Framework pdf icon PDF 828 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Performance and Data Insight Manager and Performance Analyst presented a report on the Effectiveness of the Strategic Risk Management Framework.  Following presentation of the report, Committee Members were invited to ask questions.

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As set out in the report recommendations:

 

1.     Members reviewed the updates proposed to the strategic risk management policy and had the opportunity to recommend any changes to inform its further development.

2.     Members used the assessment to seek assurance about the effectiveness of the authority’s risk management arrangements; and

3.     Members noted the further corporate risk control policies identified that the Committee could review in more detail as part of its forward work programme.

 

6.

Internal Audit Plan 24/25 pdf icon PDF 554 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Internal Auditor presented the Internal Audit Plan 2024/25.  Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As per the report recommendations the Governance and Audit Committee reviewed, commented on and approved the Internal Audit Plan 2024/25.

 

 

7.

External Quality Assessment (EQA) of Internal Audit 2024 pdf icon PDF 579 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Internal Auditor presented a report on the External Quality Assessment (EQA) of Internal Audit 2024.  Following presentation of the report, Members of the Committee were invited to ask questions:

 

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As contained in the report recommendations, the Committee noted the report and requested updates on progress in fulfilling the action plan.

8.

Implementation of Internal Audit agreed recommendations pdf icon PDF 330 KB

Minutes:

The Chief Internal Auditor presented a report on the extent to which officers have implemented Internal Audit recommendations.  Following presentation of the report, Committee Members were invited to ask questions.

 

 

View the discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As per the report recommendations the Governance & Audit Committee noted this report and the actions taken by operational managers.

9.

Proposed Future Delivery Model for the Internal Audit Service pdf icon PDF 176 KB

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Resources presented a report on the Proposed Future Delivery Model for the Internal Audit Service.  Members were then invited to ask questions.

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments here

 

As detailed in the report recommendations:

1.     The Committee considered and noted the options appraisal providing comment on the proposed delivery model for Internal Audit, and

2.     The Committee supported the strengthening of Counter-Fraud arrangements within Monmouthshire County Council creating a new post within the Internal Audit team dedicated to fraud response and training. 

 

10.

Audit Wales Performance Data Review pdf icon PDF 803 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Audit Wales Engagement Director (Monmouthshire) and Senior Auditor presented the Audit Wales Performance Data Review.  The Performance and Data Insight Manager responded to questions:

 

 

View discussion of this item, questions and comments, here

 

11.

Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Plan

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Plan was noted.

 

Watch here

 

12.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record.

 

Watch here

 

13.

Date of Next Meeting: 6th June 2024