Agenda and minutes

Andrew Blackmore was elected as Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee.

County Councillor Tony Easson was appointed as Vice Chair.

No declarations of Interest were made.

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

No members of the public were present.

The action list from the previous meeting was noted.

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=ILXQCNjvoDiP0z6k

Draft Internal Audit Plan: This was circulated to Committee Members and the final version is on the agenda today [CLOSED]

Update of Contract Procedures Rules - Advise Leader of the Committee’s Comments: A conversation with the Leader took place with a satisfactory outcome that enabled Council to approve the report to Update Contract Procedural Rules. [CLOSED]

The Performance and Data Insights Manager presented a report on the Self- Assessment of Performance Management Arrangements. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=11puRV0mfEOwydoK

As contained in the report recommendations, members used the update provided to inform their understanding of the effectiveness of the operation of the authority’s performance management arrangements and to identify any areas where they feel action needs to be taken or further information provided.

The Performance Analyst presented the Audit Wales Work Programme: Council

Progress Report. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=BcSxujvHAXgX9Ox8

As per the report recommendations, Members scrutinised the council’s response to the Audit Wales work programme, seeking assurance that adequate progress is being made and Members had an opportunity to 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.

Audit Wales Officers presented the Audit Wales Q4 Work Programme and Timetable update. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=OropOIiv_5DTO83j

The report was noted.

Audit Wales Officers presented the Audit Wales Annual Audit Plan 2025/26.  Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=HuWA6S32EeIJxZKy

The report was noted.

The Acting Chief Internal Auditor presented the Internal Audit Plan 2025/26. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=iPpemIoPhDcnSH7E

As recommended, the Governance and Audit Committee reviewed, commented on and approved the Internal Audit Plan 2025/26.

The Acting Internal Auditor presented a report on the Implementation of Internal Audit agreed recommendations.  Following presentation of the report , Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=D2HaLporhnOHsa1O

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

The Acting Chief Internal Auditor presented a report on the Internal Audit Charter, Mandate and Strategy.  Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=7zghFTvKuf-8MnB2

As per the report recommendations, the Committee noted the Internal Audit Mandate and Methodologies.  The Committee approved the Internal Audit Charter, Mandate and Strategy.

The Forward Work Plan was noted.

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=7zghFTvKuf-8MnB2

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

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Dy0fE-F8Uo?si=SbkapJlZUjJ6F7Dn