Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jodi Dunne and Laura Kirman.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

Councillor Matthew Saggers declared a non-pecuniary interest as a leaseholder in Harlow.

Minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2022

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Simon Freeman, Director of Finance and Deputy to the Chief Executive, gave an update on the 2018/19 accounts. He advised that one matter remained outstanding relating to infrastructure assets, depreciation and the treatment of these assets. Steve Bladden, BDO, advised that the issue was not specific to Harlow. The issue was out for national consultation which was due to end this week and advice on the issue was expected over the summer period. Once the outcomes of the consultation are known, a report would be brought back to the Committee.

None.

None.

The Committee received its current work plan.

Simon Freeman advised that the 2018/19 accounts would not be ready for the July Committee meeting. The Committee agreed to re-schedule the July Committee meeting to 5 October 2022.

RESOLVED that the work plan is noted.

The Committee received its annual report, which outlined its activities during the last municipal year.

RESOLVED that the Committee recommends that the Annual Report for the Audit and Standards Committee for 2021/22 be referred to Full Council for approval.

The Committee received the Internal Audit Team’s annual report, which summarised the results of the internal audit work they had undertaken during the year ending 31 March 2022, and included an overall opinion of the Council’s governance, risk management and control framework.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report.

The Committee received the latest Internal Audit Activity report and reviewed the work undertaken by the Internal Audit Team since the last report received by this Committee.

The Committee raised concerns that members had not yet been migrated over to Office 365. Councillor Simon Carter proposed (seconded by Councillor Eddie Johnson) that the Committee is provided with an update report on the Office 365 rollout within a month.

RESOLVED that the report is noted and an update report on the Office 365 rollout would be circulated to the Committee within one month.

The Committee received a Risk Management Progress Report.

Councillor Simon Carter noted that, in relation to Equality and Diversity, the Council still did not produce all documents in large print. 

RESOLVED that:

A     The Committee notes the Strategic Risks and scores as at 31 March 2022.

B     The Committee notes developments to align the strategic risk register with the Corporate Strategy from 1 April 2022.

The Committee received the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2021/22.

RESOLVED that the Committee approves the Council’s draft Annual Governance Statement for 2021/22.

Any references arising from meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be circulated separately.

None.

To deal with any matters of an urgent nature.

None.