Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Chair said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

Apologies for absence were received for Laura Kirman.

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

None.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2025 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair said he had received comprehensive responses on the IT questions that had been raised and would circulate them to the Committee.

None.

None.

The Committee received the Internal Audit Activity Report.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Standards Committee reviewed the outcomes of the work of the Internal Audit service for the period October to November 2025.

The Committee received a report on the strategy and policy review.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Standards Committee endorses the proposed changes to the strategy and policies under review being the Local Code of Corporate Governance, Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Policy and the Whistleblowing Policy  and recommended them to Cabinet for approval.

The Committee received the External Audit Progress Report 2024/25.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the contents of the external auditor’s progress report 2024-25 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

The Committee received the risk management progress report.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

A     Noted the strategic risk register of the council and the current risk scores as set out in Appendix A to the report.

B     Noted the progress on embedding operational risk registers across the council.

The Committee received an update on Member Complaints.

RESOLVED that the Committee acknowledged the update on the numbers and outcomes of Member complaints dealt with since April 2025.

To note the attached proposed Audit and Standards Committee Terms of Reference.

The Committee received the proposed terms of reference for the Audit and Standards Committee.

RESOLVED that the terms of reference be noted.

The Committee received its current work plan.

RESOLVED that the work plan is noted.

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.