Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

The Chairman welcomed Andrew Smith from Grant Thornton's (External Auditors) to his first Audit and Governance Committee.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

There were no changes to the membership of the Committee.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.   (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet).

There were no declarations of interest.

Residents of West Lancashire on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submission is 5.00pm on Friday 26 January 2018.

There were no items under this heading.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 5 September 2017.

RESOLVED:    That the minutes of the meeting held on the 5 September 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer as circulated and contained on pages 265 to 279 of the Book of Reports including as an Appendix Grant Thornton's (External Auditors) Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2017.

The Chairman invited Andrew Smith (Grant Thornton) to introduce the Annual Audit Letter.

RESOLVED:  That the Grant Thornton Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31 March 2017 be noted.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer as circulated and contained on pages 281 to 286 of the Book of Reports that introduced the Certification Letter for the year ended 31 March 2017, produced by Grant Thornton (External Auditors) and attached as an Appendix.

The Chairman invited Andrew Smith (Grant Thornton) to present the Certification Letter to the Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the Grant Thornton Certification Letter be noted.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer, contained on pages 287 to 303 of the Book of Reports, which detailed Grant Thornton's (External Auditors) Progress Report and Sector Update, which was attached as an Appendix.

RESOLVED:    That the Grant Thornton Progress Report and Sector Update be noted.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer, contained on pages 305 to 321 of the Book of Reports that introduced the External Audit Plan for the year ending 31 March 2017, produced by Grant Thornton (External Auditors) and which was attached as an Appendix.

The Chairman invited Andrew Smith (Grant Thornton) to present the External Audit Plan to the Committee.

RESOLVED:   The Grant Thornton External Audit Plan be noted.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer as circulated and contained on pages 323 to 328 of the Book of Reports which advised of progress against the 2017/18 Internal Audit Plan.

The Audit Manager reported that 66% of the items on the plan were in progress compared to 62% for the same period in the previous year.

A  Member asked whether there had been any significant impact to the Council on the introduction of Universal Credit and it was confirmed that there had neen no significant impact to the Council at this time.

RESOLVED:   That progress in the year to date, be noted.

Improved monitoring of activity under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) introduced by the relevant Code of Practice, recommends that Members receive reports from Officers at least quarterly on RIPA activity.

There is no relevant activity to report.

In relation to the quarterly monitoring of activity under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers 2000 (RIPA) the Borough Solicitor reported that there was no relevant activity to bring to the attention of the Committee.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

(To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer).

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report, as circulated and contained on pages 329 to 343 of the Book of Reports, which set out details of the operation of the Risk Management Framework over the last 12 months, and recommended changes to the current Risk Management Policy, which are to be considered at a later meeting of Cabinet.

RESOLVED  (A)      That the continuing effective operation of the Risk Management Framework be noted.

                     (B)         That the proposed amendments to the Risk Management Policy be endorsed.

Consideration was given to the Committee's Work Programme as set out at page 343 of the Book of Reports. 

RESOLVED:            That the Work Programme be noted.