Agenda and minutes

Audit, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 21st January, 2021 6.30 pm

Venue: Virtual

Contact: Chris Phillipson 43447

Items
No.	Item
27.	Apologies for absence Minutes: There were no apologies from Committee Members. Apologies were received from Gareth Mills from Grant Thornton. [Apologies from Cllr Keal were received retrospectively on 27^th January 2021.]
28.	Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 View the background to item 28. View the decision for item 28. Supporting documents: Minutes of Previous Meeting , item 28. PDF 200 KB Minutes: Decision That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Meeting held on 19November 2020 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. Voting Record 8 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
29.	Urgent Business To receive notice of any urgent business which the Chairman considers should be dealt with at the meeting as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. Minutes: There were no items of urgent business.
30.	Declarations of Interest Members to indicate whether they will be declaring any interests under the Code of Conduct. Members making a declaration of interest at a meeting of a Committee or Council are required to disclose the existence and nature of that interest. This requirement is not discharged by merely declaring a personal interest without further explanation. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
	PART 'A' ITEMS - MATTERS TO BE DEALT WITH UNDER DELEGATED POWERS OR MATTERS DETERMINED BY COMMITTEE
31.	External Audit Annual Fee Letter 2020/21 Supporting documents: RDC - 2019-20 Annual Audit Letter -12 January 2021.FINAL , item 31. PDF 397 KB Minutes: Considered – The External Audit Annual Fee Letter 2020/21 Decision That the External Audit Annual Fee Letter 2020/21 be received and noted. Voting Record 8 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
32.	Second Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Progress Reports 2020/21 Supporting documents: Covering report to January 2021 progress reports (002) , item 32. PDF 205 KB Annex 1 - RDC IA Progress Report 21.01.21 , item 32. PDF 240 KB Annex 2 - RDC Counter Fraud Progress Report 21.01.21 , item 32. PDF 396 KB Minutes: Considered – Report of the Chief Finance Officer. Decision That the Committee note the work undertaken by internal audit and the counter fraud team in the year to date. Voting Record 8 For 0 Against 1 Abstention
33.	Counter Fraud Framework Update Supporting documents: Counter Fraud Framework Update January 2021 , item 33. PDF 181 KB Appendix 1 - FFCL - Strategy for the 2020's , item 33. PDF 1 MB Appendix 2 - Counter Fraud Strategy 2020-24 , item 33. PDF 337 KB Appendix 3 - Fraud Risk Assessment January 2021 , item 33. PDF 232 KB Appendix 4 - Counter Fraud Policy (January 2021) , item 33. PDF 227 KB Minutes: Considered – Report of the Chief Finance Officer. Decision That Members a) approve the new counter fraud and corruption strategy; b) comment on the updated counter fraud and corruption policy; and c) comment on and note the analysis of current fraud risks faced by the council. Voting Record 9 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
34.	Internal Audit Plan 2021/22 - Consultation Supporting documents: Internal audit plan consultation report to Audit Committee January 2021 , item 34. PDF 238 KB Minutes: Considered – Report of the Chief Finance Officer. Decision That Members identify any specific risk areas which they believe should be considered a priority for audit in 2021/22. Areas relating to staff wellbeing as a result of Covid-19 were identified as a key priority to review in the next 12 months. Voting Record 9 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
35.	Update on the use of RIPA Supporting documents: Part A - HoCG - RIPA Report , item 35. PDF 149 KB Minutes: Considered – Report of the Head of Corporate Governance. Decision That Members note that no application for covert surveillance has been made to the Council’s approved “Authorising Officers” in the last twelve months and as a consequence no application to the Magistrates Court requesting approval of any such grant has been made Voting Record 9 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
36.	O&S Forward Plan Supporting documents: O&S Forward Plan , item 36. PDF 37 KB Minutes: Considered – The O & S Forward Plan. Decision That Members note the Overview and Scrutiny Forward Plan. Voting Record 9 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
	PART 'B' ITEMS - MATTERS REFERRED TO COUNCIL
37.	Treasury Management Statement and Investment Strategy 2021-22 Supporting documents: Treasury Management Statement and Investment Strategy 2021-22 Report , item 37. PDF 543 KB Treasury Management Statement and Investment Strategy 2021-22 Annex A , item 37. PDF 176 KB Treasury Management Statement and Investment Strategy 2021-22 Annx B-E , item 37. PDF 250 KB Treasury Management Statement and Investment Strategy 2021-22 Annex F , item 37. PDF 356 KB Minutes: Considered – Report of the Chief Finance Officer. Decision That Council is recommended to note and approve: (i)Members receive this report. (ii) The Operational Borrowing Limit for 2021/22 is set at £7m. (iii) The Authorised Borrowing Limit for 2021/22 is set at £12.5m. (iv) Councillors delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to effect movement. within the agreed authorised boundary limits for long-term borrowing for 2021/22 onwards. (v) Councillors delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to effect movement. within the agreed operational boundary limits for long-term borrowing for 2021/22 onwards. (vi) The treasury management strategy statement 2021/22 be approved. (vii) The minimum revenue provision policy statement for 2021/22 be approved. (viii) The treasury management investment strategy for 2021/22 be approved. The prudential indicators for 2021/22 which reflect the capital expenditure plans which are affordable, prudent and sustainable be approved. (x) The Capital Strategy for 2021/22 be approved. Voting Record 9 For 0 Against 0 Abstentions
38.	Any other business that the Chairman decides is urgent. Minutes: There being no other items of urgent business the meeting closed at 7.45pm.