Agenda

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 (AG3) and to receive information arising from them.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

To facilitate ‘hybrid’ meetings we are asking that requests to speak or present a petition are submitted by no later than 9am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9am on Thursday 14 September 2023. Requests to speak should be sent to shilpa.manek@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure your views are taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Report by Director of Finance

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA’s) ‘Code of Practice on Treasury Management 2021’ requires that committee to which some treasury management responsibilities are delegated, will receive regular monitoring reports on treasury management activities and risks. This report is the first report for the financial year 2023/24 and sets out the position at 30 June 2023.

Audit & Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the council’s treasury management activity the first quarter of 2023/24.

Report by Anita Bradley, Monitoring Officer.

This report gives an overview from the Monitoring Officer of democratic and ethical governance activity, during the municipal year 2022-23 (1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023), in relation to the functions of the Audit and Governance Committee.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse the report.

Report of the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

In response to an agreed motion from Council at the 1 November 2022 meeting, the Director of Law and Governance prepared a report for the Council meeting on 13 December 2022 setting out the process for undertaking a governance review.  At that meeting, it was agreed that a Future Council Governance Group would be established that reports to the Audit and Governance Committee which will make any recommendations to Council.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note progress with the Council Governance Review and the next steps set out at the end of this report (paragraphs 19 to 21).

Report by Anita Bradley, Monitoring Officer

Each year, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) issues an Annual Review Report about each council. This relates to the complaints made to the LGSCO about the Council in the previous financial year. This report updates the Committee on this area of governance for the year 2022/23, reflecting on those complaints that were considered by the LGSCO up to 31 March 2023.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to receive and comment on the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Oxfordshire County Council for 2022/23, and the work undertaken by the Council regarding its handling of complaints.

Report by the Director of Finance

The current Constitution of the Pension Fund Committee was agreed by Council at their meeting in March 2021.  The changes followed an independent review of the governance arrangements of the Pension Fund undertaken by Hymans Robertson. 

The Committee are RECOMMENDED to endorse the proposed changes to their Constitution agreed by the Pension Fund Committee as set out below and RECOMMEND them to Council.

(a) The additional of two additional voting members, appointed by the County Council in accordance with the rules of political proportionality.

(b) The deletion of the two non-voting positions representing the Academy sector.

Report by Director of Finance

This report sets out the approach taken to the preparation of the 2022/23 Statement of Accounts. It also provides a brief update to the prior years’ Accounts that remain unaudited.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the timing for the 2022/23 Statement of Accounts along with the updates on prior years.

Report by the Director of Finance

This report provides an update on the Internal Audit Service, including resources, completed and planned audits. The report includes the Executive Summaries from the individual Internal Audit reports finalised since the last report to the May 2023 Committee. Since the last update, there have been no ed reports issued. There are currently no outstanding red reports.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the progress with the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan and the outcome of the completed audits.

Report by Lorna Baxter, Director of Finance

This report sets out updates to the Risk Management Strategy 2023 2024 and an overview of the latest strategic risk register which contains the Council’s most significant risks. The strategic risk register is closely managed by the Council Management Team and reported into the Strategic Leadership Team as part of the Council’s Business Management and Monitoring Reports. These combined reports contain performance, risk and finance progress updates against the delivery of the current strategic plan priorities.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the Risk Management Strategy 2023 2024.

EY will be providing a verbal update on the status of the 20/21 audit and the 21/22 audit.

To review the Committee’s Work Programme.