Agenda and minutes

Contact: Virginia Wynn-Jones  Email: virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

2.

Confirmation of voting members

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    A representative of each political group will confirm the voting members of the committee.

    Minutes:

    The member present were confirmed as the voting members.

3.

Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent

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    In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear days of the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

4.

Disclosure of interests and dispensations

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    Members to declare any personal interests and dispensation in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

5.

Minutes

6.

Governance conversation: Caroline Bruce

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    Caroline Bruce, strategic director of environment and leisure, to talk about the department's governance arrangements.

    Minutes:

    Caroline Bruce, the strategic director of environment and leisure, presented to the committee.  The committee had questions for the strategic director.

     

    Officers undertook to send a more comprehensive response on departmental communications with a plan of action to the committee outside the meeting.

     

    The committee agreed to record their thanks to the department and officers working hard for Southwark.

7.

Report on retrospective contract-related decision: Affordable Housing Monitoring Service

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers presented the report.  Members had questions for the officers.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the retrospective contract decision detailed in the report.

     

    2.  That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the actions taken by the Director of Planning as set out in paragraphs 14 and 15 of the report to ensure that the risk of future retrospective contract decisions is minimised for the future.

8.

Grant Thornton: External audit update

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    The external auditors will present a verbal update of their work on the annual audit for 2019-20.

    Minutes:

    Grant Thornton presented their verbal update.  Members had questions for Grant Thornton.

     

    The chair agreed to call a further meeting of the committee in October 2020 to consider the final Statement of Accounts.

9.

Internal audit and anti-fraud progress report September 2020

10.

Covid-19 Pandemic: financial impact 2020-21

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers presented the report.  Members had questions of the officers.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the updated position of:

     

    ·  Government grants to support the council’s financial losses;

    ·  The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on spending and income;

    ·  The continuing uncertainty around the additional government funding;

    ·  The ongoing plans in place to mitigate the financial risk to the council.

11.

Local Government Association Proposal for a Model Code of Member Conduct

12.

Annual report on the work and performance of the audit, governance and standards committee in 2019-20: Update