Agenda

Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 29 November 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting;

a. Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b. Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c. Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being (and is not DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d. Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e. Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

The Audit Committee operates under an agreed programme of core business, in accordance with its Terms of Reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution. The Committee is asked to review and note its monitoring report/action log for the 2023/24 council year.

Best Value for Money Workstream Progress Report

The purpose of the report is to update the Audit Committee on work undertaken to date as part of the Best Value for Money Workstream, covering the period 1st April 2023 – 15th January 2024.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy

To advise members of the requirements of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and to ask Audit Committee to adopt a revised policy under this legislation.

Changes to the Code of Practice for Local Authority Accounting in the UK for 2023-24

The purpose of this report is to provide the Audit Committee with a summary of the key accounting changes in the latest edition of the Code of Practice for Local Authority Accounting in the UK which will apply to the 2023-24 Statement of Accounts.

Northumberland County Council - Statement of Accounts 2023-24

The purpose of this report is to provide the Audit Committee with:

a.  an overview of the timetable for publishing the 2023-24 Statement of Accounts

b.  an update on the Accounting Policies to be applied in the preparation of the 2023-24 Statement of Accounts.

Audit Progress Report

This report provides the Audit Committee with an update on progress in delivering our responsibilities as your external auditors.  It updates members on the current position with the 2019/20 audit and the national delays in completing the 2020/21 and 2021/22 audits, how they impact the Council and the timing of the 2022/23 audit.  It also includes, at Section 2, a summary of recent national reports and publications for information.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024-25

The Local Government Act 2003 requires the Council to set out its Treasury Strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy, which sets out the policies for managing investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments. The Council nominates the Audit Committee to be responsible for ensuring effective scrutiny of the Treasury Management Strategy and Policy.

This report sets out the Treasury Management Strategy, Treasury Management Policy Statement, the Annual Investment Strategy for the Financial Year 2024-25, Prudential Indicators 2024-25 to 2027-28 and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2024-25.

International Lessons Learned Review – Update

To update the Committee on progress in implementing the recommendations of the international lessons learned review commissioned following the issue of the S151 Officer’s S114 report in May 2022.

Outcomes from the External Quality Assessment of the Internal Audit Service

The purpose of the report is to advise Audit Committee of the findings / outcomes from the external quality assessment of the Internal Audit Service, undertaken in accordance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.

Preparation of the Strategic Audit Plan 2024/25

The purpose of this report is to outline the approach to preparing the 2024/25 Strategic Audit Plan, for consideration and endorsement by the Audit Committee.  The report also ensures the Audit Committee, as a key stakeholder of Internal Audit’s work, is engaged at an early stage in the planning process.

Corporate Risk Management Update

The purpose of this report is to provide Audit Committee with an update on the latest position of the corporate risk register following review by Executive Management Team and Cabinet.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 27 March 2024 at 10.15 am.

It is expected that matters included in this part of the Agenda will be dealt with in private.  Reports referred to are enclosed for members and officers only, coloured pink and marked "Not for Publication".

The Audit Committee is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

(a) That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the Agenda as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and

(b) That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:-

Agenda Items 

18, 19                                      Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

Disclosure could adversely affect the business reputation or confidence in the person/organisation, and could adversely affect commercial revenue.

Corporate Risk Management Update

To consider a confidential appendix in relation to item 14 on this agenda. 

Group Audit Committee: Update on Internal Audit work in relation to active group entities 

The purpose of this report is to update Group Audit Committee on progress against planned internal audit activity in relation to Advance Northumberland, including a summary of work finalised since the previous update to Group Audit Committee in September 2023. This report was presented to Advance Northumberland Audit Committee on 30 November 2023.