Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online. Contact virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk for details.

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:

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Tom Flynn.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Sunil Chopra.

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 members 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:

    The chair agreed to accept Item 7: 2019-20 Statement of Accounts for Southwark Council and Audit findings report (ISA 260) – including pension fund as late and urgent for the reasons set out in the relevant minute.

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.

Annual Governance Statement 2019-20

7.

2019-20 Statement of Accounts for Southwark Council and Audit findings report (ISA 260) - including Pension Fund

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    This item was accepted as late and urgent by the chair, as:

     

    ·  The audit of the accounts is ongoing up to the date of receipt of the audit opinion. The Audit Findings Reports were received close to the deadline for the dispatch of the audit, governance and standards committee agenda.

     

    ·  The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require the council to approve the accounts by 31 July each year. However, the Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 revised the statutory deadline to 30 November for 2019-20. The audit findings report and audited statement of accounts 2019-20 must be issued for committee consideration prior to the audit opinion being released.

     

    The external auditors introduced the report.  Members had questions for the auditors and officers.

     

    The audit, governance and standards committee and the strategic director of finance and governance thanked the finance team, BDO as the council’s internal auditors, and Grant Thornton as the council’s external auditors for their quick and effective work.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the audit, governance and standards committee:

     

    a)  considered the matters raised in Grant Thornton’s audit findings report for 2019-20 (appendix A of the report) before approval of the council’s main accounts

     

    b)  noted the adjustments to the main accounts as set out in page 21 of the audit findings report

     

    c)  approved the council’s letter of representation set out at appendix B of the report

     

    d)  considered the matters raised in the Pension Fund audit findings report 2019-20 (appendix C of the report) prior to approval of the Pension Fund accounts

     

    e)  noted the adjustments to the Pension Fund accounts as set out in page 14 of the pension fund audit findings report

     

    f)  approved the Pension Fund letter of representation set out at appendix D of the report

     

    g)  approved the Statement of Accounts 2019-20 (appendix E of the report), subject to any final changes required by the conclusion of the audit being delegated to the Strategic Director of Finance and Governance in consultation with the chair of Audit, Governance and Standards Committee.

8.

Formation of audit, governance and standards sub-committees for 2020-21

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the membership of the sub-committees be as follows:

     

    Audit, governance and standard (civic awards) sub-committee

    Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle (Chair)

    Councillor Graham Neale

    Councillor Andy Simmons

    Councillor Michael Situ

     

    Audit, governance and standard (standards) sub-committee

    Councillor Michael Situ (Chair)

    Councillor Humaira Ali

    Councillor James McAsh