Agenda and minutes
PDF 137 KBVenue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G01A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions
Contact: Virginia Wynn-Jones Email: virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk
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Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for lateness and early departure were received from Councillor Ellie Cumbo. |
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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 8, Repairs and Maintenance update, and item 10, 2025-26 half year report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team and the Special Investigations Team, 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 14 July 2025 Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of 14 July 2025 were agreed as a correct record. |
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Election of vice-chair
Minutes: RESOLVED:
That Councillor Adam Hood be elected as vice-chair of the audit, governance and standards committee for 2025-26 |
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Governance conversation: Strategic Director Environment, Sustainability & Leisure
Aled Richards, strategic director environment, sustainability & leisure, to attend the committee. Supporting documents: Minutes: Aled Richards, strategic director of environment, sustainability and leisure, attended the meeting. Members had questions for the strategic director.
The strategic director undertook to circulate briefing notes on: - The definition of a traffic-sensitive street - An update on the planned womens’ safety community build - A draft of the items suggested for inclusion in the planned quarterly briefing - The changes in estates recycling.
The committee thanked the strategic director for attending. |
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Repairs & Maintenance update
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to bring back briefing notes on: - Details of the planned £40m spend on estates-based planned maintenance - Details of the planned £30m spend on communal roofing, including the projected number of properties being brought back into use through this programme.
Officers undertook to include information on performance and budget setting in the HRA report due to the committee in November 2025.
RESOLVED:
1. That the committee noted positive trends in relation to performance against the Improvement Plan agreed with the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH), and good progress towards our commitment to become a Good Landlord, including plans to strengthen the Repairs Service.
2. That the committee noted ongoing delivery of the current capital investment programme, and its focus on health, safety and compliance.
3. That the committee noted the timeline for the development of a new 5-year investment plan, based on the findings of the stock condition survey and engagement with our residents and stakeholders. |
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Internal audit progress report September 2025
Supporting documents: Minutes: BDO, the council’s internal auditors, introduced the report. Members had questions for the auditors.
The auditors undertook to bring back a written update on the outcomes from the housing allocations audit.
The auditors undertook to circulate a briefing note including the figures for the KPIs of the highways maintenance team following that audit.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the update reports, as attached at Appendix A and B of the report. |
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2025-26 half year report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team and the Special Investigations Team
To follow Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to include further information on how information sharing is managed in other London councils to their next update report.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the 2025-26 half year report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) and the Special Investigations Team (SIT). |
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Annual Governance Report 2024-25
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee approved the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2024-25 as attached at Appendix 1 of the report. |
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In year review of work programme 2025-26: September 2025
Supporting documents: Minutes: Officers introduced the report. Members had questions for the officers.
Officers undertook to bring back reports on:
- Complaints and customer service, including member enquiries (November) - Housing asset management (As available) - HRA report to include performance and budget setting (November)
And for currently scheduled items to include further details listed in the relevant minute for this meeting.
RESOLVED:
That the audit, governance and standards committee noted the proposed work programme for 2025-26. |