Agenda and minutes

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee - Monday 17 July 2023 6.30 pm

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G01A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions

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 were received from Councillor Graham Neale.

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:

    There were no items of business the chair deemed urgent.

     

    The chair agreed to vary the order of business to hear items 13: Review of communication protocol and 14: Review of the members’ code of conduct, after item 8: Internal audit update: Garages.

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 review: Finance Department

7.

Internal audit update: S106

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    Gavin Blackburn, Planning S106 Enforcement Manager, Ian Ogden, Planning Business Support & Local Land Charges Manager, and Colin Wilson, Head of Regeneration Old Kent Road, to present to the committee.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers presented to the committee.  Members had questions for the officers.

     

    Officers confirmed that the audit recommendations were ready for implementation.

8.

Internal audit update: Garages

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    Louise Turff, Head of Homeownership Services, to attend the committee.

    Minutes:

    Officers presented to the committee.  Members had questions for the officers.

     

    Officers confirmed that the audit recommendations were ready for implementation.

     

    Officers undertook to update the committee confirming the status of the garages waiting list at the end of August 2023.

     

    Officers undertook to explore using this system for parking/other areas.

9.

Internal audit and anti-fraud progress report: July 2023

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    BDO introduced the report.  Members had questions for the internal auditors.

     

    The committee undertook to raise the issue of low completion rates of safeguarding training with senior officers.

     

    The committee recommended that Delawick TMO be written to in congratulations of the outcomes of their audit.

     

    Officers undertook to invite officers responsible for significant outstanding audit responses at August 2023 to the audit, governance and standards committee in September 2023.

     

    Officers undertook to invite the director of education to the audit, governance and standards committee in September 2023.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the committee noted the report.

     

10.

Internal audit annual report and annual statement of assurance 2022-23

11.

Draft 2022-23 statement of accounts for Southwark council

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    Officers undertook to ensure that the public accounts visible on the council’s website have a note visible confirming the national infrastructure issues which delayed signoff.

     

    Officers undertook to invite the Grant Thornton, the council’s external auditors, to the audit, governance and standards committee in September 2023.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the committee noted the report.

12.

Annual Governance Statement 2022-23

13.

Review of Communication Protocol

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    Officers took feedback from members on the suggested wording of the communications protocol.

     

    Officers undertook to bring the updated communications protocol back to the committee in November 2023, including responses to members’ feedback.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the committee noted the report.

14.

Review of the Members' Code of Conduct

15.

Formation of audit, governance and standards sub-committees for 2023-24: conduct sub-committee

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Officers introduced the report. 

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the committee reserved their decision on the membership of the audit, governance and standards (conduct) sub-committee.  This item will be brought back to the September 2023 meeting.