Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor P O'Neill.

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

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor D Daniels and the appointment of Councillor J Howard for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note, no other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of business.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager 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  ...  view the full agenda text for item 32.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2022 be received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 10.00am on Friday 21 October 2022.

There were no items under this heading.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the External Audit Progress Report as contained on pages 285 to 298 of the Book of Reports.

The Chairman welcomed and invited Georgia Jones, Director and Ying Li Assistant Manager Grant Thornton, to present the report to the Committee.

Comments and Questions were raised as follows:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the External Audit Addendum to the Audit Plan 2020/21 as contained on pages 299 to 304 of the Book of Reports.

The Chairman invited Georgia Jones Director and Ying Li Assistant Manager Grant Thornton, to present the report to the Committee.

Comments and Questions were raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services as contained on pages 305 to 308 of the Book of Reports, the purpose of which was to consult members of the Audit & Governance Committee on the format of the external review of internal audit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services as contained on pages 309 to 318 of the Book of Reports, which advised of progress against the 2022/23 Internal Audit Plan.

The Corporate Compliance & Governance Manager outlined the report and responded to comments and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services as contained on pages 319 to 336 of the Book of Reports. The purpose of which was to consider the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21.

The Corporate Compliance & Governance Manager outlined details of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To consider the report of the Legal and Democratic Services Manager.

Consideration was given to the report of the Legal and Democratic Services Manager as contained on pages 337 to 338 of the Book of Reports, the purpose of which was to report on the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

RESOLVED:             That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To consider the Committee Work Programme 2022-2023.

Consideration was given to the Committee's 2022/23 Work Programme as set out on pages 339 to 340 of the Book of Reports.

The Chairman suggested that a joint presentation with Internal / External Audit take place in respect of 'Annual Accounts' on 31 January 2023.  He informed that the briefing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.