Agenda and draft minutes

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 last meeting was noted.

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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

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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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. 

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:

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The Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Plan was noted.

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

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