Agenda

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2025 and 20 May 2025 and to receive information arising from them.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition, can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to present a petition must be submitted no later than 9am ten working days before the meeting.

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting.

Requests should be submitted to committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Report by the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

This report provides two updates regarding the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts.

Enterprise Oxfordshire has been a council-controlled entity since 1 April 2024. However, because its financial activity has been assessed as not material the council’s external auditor has advised that group accounts are not required for 2024/25.

As set out in the update on Local Audit reform elsewhere on the agenda the deadline for publishing the unaudited accounts for 2024/25 has been extended to 30 June 2025. Oxfordshire County Council anticipates meeting this deadline, with the public inspection period scheduled from 1 July to 12 August.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to

(a)           Note the update on the accounting treatment for Enterprise Oxfordshire in the 2024/25 financial year.

(b)           Note the publication date of the Statement of Accounts for 2024/25 and the associated public inspection period.

Report by the Executive Director of Resources

and Section 151 Officer.

This report sets out an update on Local Audit Reform following the national consultation that ran from December 2024 to January 2025.

It also provides background to the issues that have impacted on the audit and opinion on the council’s accounts from 2020/21 onwards and explains the on-going impact for the audit of the 2024/25 accounts and potentially future years.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to

(a)           Note the update on Local Audit Reform and the establishment of a Local Audit Office.

(b)           Note the on-going backstop arrangements following the disclaimed opinions for the council’s accounts for 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Report by Lorna Baxter, Executive Director Resources and Section 151 Officer

This report sets out updates to Risk Management and an overview of the latest strategic risk register which contains the Council’s most significant risks. The strategic risk register is proactively managed by the Senior Leadership Team and reported into the Strategic Leadership Board 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 note the Risk Management Update .

Report by Chief Internal Auditor

This is the annual report of the Chief Internal Auditor, summarising the outcome of the Internal Audit work in 2024/25, and providing an opinion on the Council's System of Internal Control. The opinion is one of the sources of assurance for the Annual Governance Statement.

The basis for the opinion is set out in paragraphs 22 – 35, followed by the overall opinion for 2024/25 which is that there is satisfactory assurance regarding Oxfordshire County Council's overall control environment and the arrangements for governance, risk management and control.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse this annual report.

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

This report presents the Internal Audit Strategy and Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26.  A separate plan for Counter-Fraud activity will be presented to this Committee in July 2025.

Appendix 2 sets out the annual Internal Audit plan for 2025/26. 

The key focus of audit activity during the year includes:

·       Financial Management

·       Capital

·       Major Programmes

·       Contract Management

·       Governance

·       IT Security 

·       Service Strategic Risks

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to Comment and note the Internal Audit Strategy and Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26.

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

This report provides the Audit & Governance Committee with an update on the implementation of the new Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector. It presents both the Internal Audit Charter and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme for 2026/26. These are subject to annual review.

The committee is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Note the update on implementation of the Global Internal Audit Standards

b)    Approve the Internal Audit Charter for 2025/26

c)    Note the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme.

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

The Audit Working Group (AWG) met on 26 March 2025. The group received an update on the implementation of management actions arising from the audit of Strategic Contract Management which was undertaken in 2024/25. The group also received an update from the Counter Fraud Team, on current and recently completed cases and on the development of the counter fraud risk register.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

Report by Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Audit & Governance Committee has the responsibility of approving the Council’s Annual Governance Statement (AGS) each year.

Local authorities are required to prepare an AGS to be transparent about their compliance with good governance principles. This includes reporting on how they have monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of their governance arrangements in the previous year and setting out any planned changes in the coming period.

The Audit & Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25, subject to the Monitoring Officer making any necessary amendments in the light of comments made by the Committee, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, and the Section 151 officer.

The items to be discussed:

1. Oxfordshire County Council Provisional Audit Planning Report Year Ending 31 March 2025 (E&Y)
2. Oxfordshire Pension Fund Provisional Audit Planning Report Year Ending 31 March 2025 (E&Y)
3. Oxfordshire County Council Auditors Annual Report Year Ending 31 March 2024 (E&Y)

The Audit and Governance Committee to note, comment and agree the work programme for future meetings.

Committee to note that the date of the next meeting is 16 July 2025.