Agenda

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2026 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 Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer)

Treasury management is defined as: “The management of the organisation’s borrowing, investments and cash flows, including its banking, money market and capital market transactions, the effective control of the risks associated with those activities, and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with those risks.”

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 for the 2026/27 financial year and sets out the position at 30 June 2026.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the Council’s treasury management activity at the end of the first quarter of 2026/27.

Verbal Update from the Chief Accountant

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the update on the progression on the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2025/26.

Report by the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer)

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 2026 Committee. Since the last update, there have been no red reports issued.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the progress with the Council’s Internal Audit Plan for 2026/27 and the outcome of the completed audits.

Report by the external auditor Ernst and Young LLP

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report, ‘Rebuilding audit assurance: the path to an unqualified opinion. Year ended 31 March 2026’.

Report by the Director of Financial and Commercial Services

In response to a request from the Audit and Governance Committee, this paper sets out how the council ensures value for money is achieved on behalf of residents and communities.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the actions taken by officers to ensure value for money is achieved through third party contracts.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

This report provides a comprehensive overview from the Monitoring Officer of democratic and ethical governance activities during the municipal year 2025-26 (from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026). The report is aligned with the functions of the Audit and Governance Committee, which is responsible for ensuring high standards of conduct among councillors and co-opted members.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and endorse the Monitoring Officer’s annual report for 2025-26.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The Council may occasionally need to carry out covert surveillance. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (‘the Act’) and supporting Codes of Practice provide the legal framework under which public bodies may lawfully undertake covert surveillance.

Codes of Practice under the Act require that elected members review the Authority’s use of activities within the scope of the Act periodically and review the Authority’s Policy annually. This report provides a summary of the covert activities undertaken by the council between April 2025 and March 2026 for review by the Committee.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

a)             note the Policy for Compliance with the Investigation of Regulatory Powers Act 2000 included in the annex of this paper and to comment on any changes to the policy that the committee would wish the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer to consider; and

b)             consider and note the use of any activities within the scope of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by the Council.

Report by the Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

The report asks the Audit and Governance Committee to consider Member appointments to a variety of bodies which in different ways support the discharge of the Council’s responsibilities, but which are the responsibility of the Committee - and not Cabinet - to appoint.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to agree the appointments to Category B outside bodies listed in Annex 1 to this report until July 2027.

Report by the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer)

The Audit Working Group (AWG) met on 2 September 2026. The group received an update on the implementation of management actions arising from the audit of Bridge Management and the audit of Highways Contract Management, which were both undertaken in 2025/26.

The Audit and Governance Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

To review the Audit and Governance Committee’s Work Programme for 2026-27