Agenda and minutes

This meeting will be recorded. The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be recorded to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing.

If you are seated in the lower public seating area then it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this then you should move to the upper public gallery.

Could I please also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking”.

The Chairman made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet, and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda for the meeting of the Committee.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct.

Signed minutes of the meeting.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2023 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee.

There were no matters arising form the minutes of the previous meetings which warranted further discussion.

To consider the attached work programme for the Committee for 2022/23.

The Committee noted that the: Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy,and the Whistleblowing Policy would be presented to the Committee at the February meeting.

The remaining Work Programme for 2023/24 was noted.

(Strategic Director Corporate and Section 151 Officer) To consider and comment on the risk management report.

The Strategic Director Corporate and Section 151 Officer, A. Small, outlined the risk management report and highlighted minor decreases in the risk score for homelessness, building and regeneration programme, and climate change. There had been in an increase in the risk associated with delivering a balanced budget, as the budget proposals were being developed.

The Committee were advised that:

·         shared services for audit, payroll and finance were in existence, this provided resilience, better use of systems, expertise and knowledge.

·         there was scope to consider assurance and governance arrangements for shared services.

·         risks associated with legal disputes were reflected in the service risks.

Resolved:

The Committee reviewed and endorsed the risk register.

(Chief Internal Auditor) To consider and comment on the Internal Audit Progress Report.

The Senior Auditor, S Linsley, presented the Internal Audit Monitoring Report and updated the Committee on the work completed by internal audit since the previous meeting. Three final reports had been issued, IT Disaster Recovery and Cash and Banking had been given substantial assurance and Safes reasonable assurance. The recommendation tracker showed 13 items outstanding items.

The Head of Internal Audit, S Marsh, advised the committee that an external quality assessment had showed Epping Forest District Council to be fully compliant with Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS), the internal Audit Charter for the shared service partners was now a single document, and progress had been made against the 2022/23 Annual Governance Statement action plan.

The Committee commended the work of the Internal Audit Service and compliance with the PSIAS.

Clarity on the assurance arrangements on the recommendation tracker was provided to the Committee.

Resolved:

That the Committee

·         noted the summary of the work of Internal Audit for the period July to November 2023, and

·         approved the Internal Audit Charter

To note the Treasury Management Quarter 2 Update 2023/24

C Hartgrove (Interim Director Finance / Deputy 151 Officer) provided an update on the Treasury Management Quarter 2 position as at 30th September 2023, and highlighted that external borrowing had increased by £8.7 million to £290.3 million, the treasury investment position had reduced by £5.9 million to £8.2 million during the period April to September 2023 . The overall value of service investments, which captured the loans granted to Qualis, had increased by £12.0 million to £50.9 million.  Commercial Property Investments had a balance sheet value of £148.5 million at the start of the year with a net income of £4.1 million in the first 6 months of 2023/4. There was one commercial loan of £30 million to Qualis due to the nature of this loan the balance would remain static for the duration of the loan.

Confirmation that treasury management activities complied the CIPFA Code of Practice was provided by Strategic Director and Section 151 Officer to the Committee.

The Loss allowances on the development and investment loans to Qualis was explained to the Committee as a technical adjustment calculated annually for balance sheet purposes.

Resolved:

The Committee commented on the Treasury Management Quarter 2, 2023/24 report.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

The Chairman advised the Committee that this was the last meeting of Mr Jarvis and thanked him for his serivce to the Committee, the Section 151 Officer also expressed his thanks for his contribution to the committee.