Agenda and minutes
PDF 142 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. |
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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: There were none. |
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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 13 November 2024. Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Wednesday 13 November 2024 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Governance conversation: Strategic director of housing
Hakeem Osinaike, strategic director of housing, to attend. Supporting documents: Minutes: Hakeem Osinaike, strategic director of housing, presented to the committee. The committee had questions for the strategic director.
Officers undertook to publish the briefing circulated by the strategic director prior to the meeting.
Officers undertook to bring back a written report in nine months on the results of the housing department’s work with TMO on their finances. |
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Internal audit progress report February 2025
Supporting documents: Minutes: The internal auditors introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
The internal auditors undertook to include an audit on estate lighting in the 2025/26 audit plan.
The committee offered their congratulations to the treasury management team, Bankline, IT incident management, pest control, and the youth and play service for their very positive audit outcomes.
RESOLVED:
1. That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the update reports, as attached at Appendix A and B of the report.
2. That the audit, governance and standards committee agreed the indicative internal audit programme for 2025/26 as attached at Appendix C of the report.
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Auditor's Year End Report on Southwark Council 2023-24
Supporting documents: Minutes: The external auditors introduced the report. Members had questions for the auditors.
The auditors undertook to update the text on page 30 of their report relating to officers’ oversight of major works.
Officers confirmed that an action plan based on the auditors’ recommendations would be brought back to the committee in July 2025.
Officers undertook to consider how best to present information on waivers to the committee in 2025/26, and to bring a response back via the work plan update.
RESOLVED:
That the Audit, Governance and Standards committee:
a. Considered the matters raised in KPMG’s Year End Report for the council’s core financial statements 2023-24 (Appendix A of the report) before approval of the council’s accounts
b. Considered the matters raised in KPMG’s Auditor’s Annual Report (Appendix B of the report)
c. Considered the matters raised in the KPMG’s Year End Report for the Pension Fund 2023-24 (Appendix C of the report) before approval of the Pension Fund accounts. |
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Final Statement of Accounts 2023-24
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
The committee thanked the officers and the external accountants for their work in bringing the accounts up to date before the deadline.
RESOLVED:
That the Audit, Governance and Standards committee:
a. Noted the adjustments to the council’s accounts as set out in paragraph 14 of the report
b. Noted the adjustments to the Pension Fund accounts as set out in paragraph 15 of the report
c. Approved the letters of representation for the council and Pension Fund (Appendices A and B) as required by KPMG in order to conclude the audit of the 2023-24 statement of accounts
d. Approved the Statement of Accounts 2023-24 (Appendix C) subject to any final changes required by the conclusion of the audit, being delegated to the Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Chair of the Audit, Governance and Standards committee. |
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2024-25 Q3 report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT), Finance and the Special Investigations Team (SIT)
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions of the officers.
Officers undertook to confirm the risk status of concurrent working in future report.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee note the 2024-25 Q3 report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) and the Special Investigations Team (SIT).
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Annual report on corporate risk
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report.
RESOLVED:
1. That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the annual report on corporate risk.
2. That the audit, governance and standards committee reviewed the current corporate risk register and provided comments to officers for their consideration prior to the publication of the register by the Strategic Director of Resources. |
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Review of the Members' Code of Conduct update
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
Officers undertook to circulate the link to the consultation questionnaire so members can choose to respond. The consultation closes on 26 February 2025.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the pausing of the Review of the Members’ Code of Conduct as a result of the Government’s new proposals on member conduct. |
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Review of complaints made under the Members' Code of Conduct in 2024
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the report. |
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Whistleblowing complaints and outcomes
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the report. |
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Report on the operational use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
RESOLVED:
That the committee noted the report. |
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Annual report on the work and performance of the audit, governance and standards committee in 2024-25
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
Officers undertook to update a minor typographical error.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee forward this report on its work and performance in 2024-25 to all councillors, subject to any amendments it wishes to make. |
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Annual work programme for the following year (2025-26)
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officer.
Officers undertook in 2025/26 to bring reports on the following:
· Waivers · Complaints governance, including TMO complaints · Members’ enquiries.
RESOLVED:
1. That the audit, governance and standards committee considered the proposed draft work programme for 2025-26 and made the above amendments.
2. That the audit, governance and standards committee, subject to any requested changes, agreed the work programme for 2025-26 set out in Appendix 2 of the report. |
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Appointment of non-voting co-opted members of the civic awards sub-committee for 2024-25
Supporting documents: Minutes: The committee went into closed session.
Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
RESOLVED:
That the committee appoint the following as co-opted members of the audit, governance and standards (civic awards) sub-committee:
Christiana Opoku-Addo Hajia Saidat Oketunde Brenda Wade A representative of the Civic Society
Reserve: Jonathan Sedgwick |