Contact: Tracy Tiff, Democratic Services
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Apologies Decision: Councillor Cecile Irving-Swift Councillor Rosie Humphreys Minutes: Apologies received from Councillor Cecile Irving-Swift and Councillor Rosie Humphreys, and Duncan Wilkinson – Chief Internal Auditor
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Declarations of Interest Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. Minutes: None |
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To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 29th October 2021. Decision: Minutes approved with amendment that states that Councillor Stephen Clarke had forwarded a list of questions as he had sent his apologies for the meeting. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 29th September 2021 be agreed subject to an amendment noting that in his absence Councillor Stephen Clarke had sent through various questions.
Councillor Stephen Clarke provided the following statement. “‘He was surprised to read on Page 8 of the Minutes of the last meeting, Item 8 Approval of Legacy Councils Annual Governance Statements that Members had no questions. Although he had been unable to attend the meeting he had submitted 68 written questions for that meeting. Of the 68 written questions, 49 were answered on 12 October 2021, which left 19 outstanding. Of the 19 unanswered questions, sixteen still needed to be answered and three had responses, which would require more work. He would be writing to Martin Henry, Executive Director of Finance seeking further responses.”
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Urgent Business The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.
Minutes: None |
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Chair's Announcements To receive communications from the Chair. Minutes: It was advised that the deep dive on Economic Recovery risk that had been planned to take place during the meeting would not go ahead as the relevant officers had not had the time to compose a report. It would be re-scheduled for the new year.
A Councillor asked that in the future the Chair be noted as the Chair and not Chairman in order to be inclusive, this would be in-keeping with the non-gendered language used in the constitution |
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Internal Audit 2021-22 Update Report PDF 119 KB Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee noted the report. Minutes:
Councillors made the following comments. · It was noted that 25% of potential fraud discovered was real, what could the council do to help with this going forward. · It was queried how the council would address the resource problem that had been mentioned in section 7.1. · The 625-audit day shortfall was noted, what would the council do to address the shortfall. · How many full, part time and agency staff the council had was queried. · Had the audit shortfall anything to do with lack of response from relevant departments or officers. · It was queried whether the likelihood of fraud would increase when bringing the fraud department in-house, specifically the transition stage. · Had the amount of known fraud been what was expected. · The report had discussed legacy debt, would this work be completed.
The Chair made the following comments.
The Executive Director of Finance made the following comments.
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External Audit Progress Report - Ernest Young PDF 5 MB NCC Audit Results report 2019-20 – Verbal Update NBC Audit Results report 2019-20 – Verbal Update NCC 2020-21 Audit Plan – Verbal Update NBC 2020-21 Audit Plan - Attached
Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee noted the report. Minutes:
With regards to the NCC audit, there were some outstanding areas, but the majority had been completed. Some issues had been found, which included incorrect debtors’ codes being used, although there had been no bottom-line impact from these.
Debbie Hanson from EY advised that planning for the 2021 audit had already commenced in lower risk areas. The committee was asked if they wished to see a copy of the work carried out before it was brought to the committee in January. The committee agreed that they would like to see a copy of the work as soon as it was ready.
A councillor asked whether the NCC audit would include the LGSS Service, Debbie Hanson advised that at the moment there would be change in their approach to LGSS.
Mark Rutter from EY presented the next part of the item and noted that the main issues with outstanding audits had been delay in responses to queries that had been sent to officers. There had been some findings which would be provided to the committee.
With regards to NBC and materiality, there had been an increase from £2.2 million to £4.5 million which represented a 2% expenditure. It was noted that 4% was expected due to the size of the organisation.
Significant risk had been found with regards to land and buildings, the committee was advised that the council had a varied portfolio of assets, it was noted that council dwellings and heritage assets had been excluded from this.
The debt from the Northampton Town Football Club was mentioned, there had been limited progress in this area.
Councillors made the following comments.
The following comments were made by the Executive Director of Finance.
Mark Rutter from EY advised that the two hotels discussed in ... view the full minutes text for item 27. |
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External Audit Progress Report - Grant Thornton To receive a verbal update from West Northants External Auditor
Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee noted the verbal update. Minutes: At the Chairs invitation Ciaran McLaughlin from Grant Thornton gave a verbal update. The committee was informed that an audit plan would be presented at the January meeting. There were no questions. |
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Future Appointment of External Auditor PDF 699 KB To seek the view of the Committee on the appointment of an external auditor from the financial year 2023-24
Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee supported Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023. Minutes: At the Chairs invitation the Assistant Director of Finance for Accountancy presented the report, copies of which had been previously circulated. The committee was informed that in 2017 all the previous authorities opted into the PSAA service which covered a 5-year period. WNC would have to now opt into the 2023/24 tender, different options had been set in the report. Due to its technical nature, it was advised that a limited number of audit firms were able to do the sort of work that was required by the council.
A councillor agreed and noted that joining the PSAA would be less burdensome to the council.
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Corporate Risk Register PDF 652 KB To consider a summary report on the Corporate Risk Register
Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee considered the Strategic Risk Register Minutes: At the Chairs invitation The Executive Director of Finance presented the report copies of which had been previously circulated. The report highlighted what the main corporate risks had been and what the current risk scores were, the committee were informed that there had not been a significant change.
A Councillor asked if the resignation of the Director of Children’s Services would create a risk increase, the Executive Director of Finance advised that it would be a consideration.
Discussion took place regarding the next deep dive, with a staffing item also being put forward.
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Review of Committee Work Programme PDF 109 KB Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: The Committee considered the work programme. Minutes: The Chair noted that deep dive options had been identified but resources had not been considered.
The Executive Director of Finance noted that a deep dive of the Children’s Trust had been raised at the last meeting, this could be a candidate for a deep dive.
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