Agenda and minutes
PDF 139 KBVenue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G02A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions
Contact: Virginia Wynn-Jones Email: virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk
Link: Livestream
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Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Nick Johnson, from Philip Kent, KPMG, and from Caroline Watson. |
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Confirmation of voting members
A representative of each political group will confirm the voting members of the committee. Minutes: The members present were confirmed as the voting members. |
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Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent
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 6a), Housing briefing on savings, as late and urgent. |
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Disclosure of interests and dispensations
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. |
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Minutes
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 5 September 2024. Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of 5 September 2024 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Governance conversation: Assistant chief executive for strategy and communities
Rhona Cadenhead, the interim assistant chief executive for strategy and communities, to attend the committee. Minutes: Rhona Cadenhead, interim assistant chief executive for strategy and communities, presented to the committee. The committee had questions for the assistant chief executive.
The committee thanked Rhona for her conversation. |
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Housing Briefing on Savings
Supporting documents: Minutes: Hakeem Osinaike, strategic director of housing, presented to the committee. Members had questions for the strategic director.
Members thanked Hakeem for his presentation. |
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Cyber Security Update
Supporting documents: Minutes: Dionne Lowndes, chief digital and technology officer, and Fabio Negro, Shared Technology Services, presented the update. The committee had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to bring an update to the June 2025 meeting of the audit, governance and standards committee, including every third party supplier listed.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the actions being taken in response to the BDO Audit, and their current status.
That the committee noted that Shared Technology Service have procured a managed Security Operations Centre (SOC), with transitioning beginning in November 2024, to provide more comprehensive security coverage and capability, further strengthening our resilience. |
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Member Enquiries update
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the report, as attached at Appendix A of the report. |
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Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy 2025-26
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
The committee congratulated the treasury management team on a positive audit.
RESOLVED:
That the Audit, Governance and Standards committee noted the draft Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy for 2025-26, and its appendices:
· Appendix A - Capital Strategy 2025-26 to 2035-36 · Appendix B - Treasury Management Strategy 2025-26 · Appendix C - Annual Investment Management Strategy 2025-26 · Appendix D - Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2025-26 · Appendix E - Prudential Indicators 2025-26 to 2027-28. |
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Internal audit progress report November 2024
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to include information on TMOs such as Cooper Close and Haddon Hall in the governance conversation at the committee meeting in February 2025.
Officers undertook to work with the internal auditor to create a process to support avoiding delayed implementation rates by bringing officers to committee if required.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the report, as attached at Appendix A and B of the report. |
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Progress Report on the audit of the Statement of Accounts 2023/24
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to request a report from the strategic director of housing on the governance issues around major works for the February 2025 meeting of the audit, governance and standards committee.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the progress report on the audit of the statement of accounts 2023-24, as attached at Appendix A of the report.
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the timeline for approval of the 2023-24 audited statement of accounts. |
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Update: Corporate Anti-Fraud Team and the Special Investigations Team 2024-25 Q2
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the 2024-25 Q2 report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team and the Special Investigations Team. |
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Review of the Members' Code of Conduct update
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the progress of the Review of the Members’ Code of Conduct and the timelines for the final recommendations to be made to Council Assembly in 2025. |
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Review of Communications Protocol
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to update the communications protocol to maintain paragraphs 1 and 2 of the original, and to maintain the legal framework within the main text rather than in an appendix, and recirculate this to the committee.
RESOLVED:
That the committee considered the attached Communication protocol at Appendix A of the report.
The committee agreed to recommend the amendments to the Communications protocol to Council Assembly subject to the changes recommended above. |
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Independent members of the audit, governance and standards (civic awards) sub-committee: Recommendations
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to bring an update of the committee’s workplan to meetings.
Officers undertook to bring an item on members’ training to a later meeting.
The committee undertook to pass on the details of any potential candidates to the clerk.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the criteria set out in the report for inviting individuals to join the audit, governance and standards (civic awards) sub-committee (‘the civic awards sub-committee’) for evaluating nominations for the 2024-25 Civic Awards.
That the committee considered any recommendations they would have for individuals or groups to be invited to join the civic awards sub-committee. |