Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2020.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 December 2020  were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

It was noted that the Standards Committee had approved a dispensation to enable Councillor Hurleston as a member of the Board of the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation and who would otherwise have a personal and prejudicial interest in the matter being discussed to take part in the debate and vote at the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions).

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer).

The report updates Members of the Committee on 2020/2021 Accounting policies.

The Audit Committee is requested to approve the Council’s proposed Accounting Policies to be adopted in preparing the Council’s 2020/21 Annual Statement of Accounts.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on telephone number Tel: 0161 218 1025 or email jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Committee on the 2020/2021 Accounting policies.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was provided on whether the completion of the affiliated accounts of the Council’s companies would align with the audit completion date.

RESOLVED – That the Council’s proposed Accounting Policies in preparing the Council’s 2020/21 Annual Statement of Accounts be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the progress made in the period 1^st November 2020 to 31^st January 2021 against the updated 2020-21 audit plan approved in August 2020.

Audit Committee is requested to note and comment upon the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress made in the period 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021 against the updated 2020-21 Audit Plan approved in August 2020.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The arrangement of risk workshops was highlighted, primarily in the Corporate and Support Services Directorate but with a view to being rolled out to all directorates in the next three months.

·         With regard to the coronavirus assurance plan update, a Member commented that some workplaces had failed to get adequate occupational health services in place. It was reassuring that advice and consultancy support was being provided on an ongoing basis regarding the Recovery Planning Phase (Workforce Development).

·         At the request of Members, the Committee was provided with more details on the postponement, at the request of client management, of the Street Lighting (LED replacement) value for money work.

·         A Member queried How the increase in homeworking since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic would impact on the future audit work on estate planning and with particular regard to the potential increase in the number of risks from staff working at home.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

The Internal Audit Plan 2021/22 outlines the key areas of the Council that

current internal audit resources will be directed, in the next financial year.

Audit Committee is asked to approve the 2021/22 Internal Audit Plan and

Charter.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the key areas of the Council that current internal audit resources would be directed at in the next financial year.

With reference to Appendix A, Members expressed supported for the work in connection with ‘People being able to make positive choices and be independent and those who need support get it’.

RESOLVED – (1) That the 2021/22 Internal Audit Plan and Charter be approved.

(2) That Officers in the Internal Audit section be thanked for the work which being carried out.

To consider a report of theDeputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer).

The report advises Members of the Council’s Annual Governance Action Plan

arising from the latest Annual Governance Statement (AGS).

The AGS was approved by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 9^th

September 2020.

The Action Plan outlines the current four key governance issues currently

facing the Council along with agreed controls put in place to manage the issue

and updates since the last report to Audit Committee on the 9th December

2020.

Audit Committee is requested to note the report and comment upon the

contents.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Committee of the Council’s Annual Governance Action Plan arising from the latest Annual Governance Statement (AGS).

The AGS had been approved by the Committee at its meeting held on 9 September 2020.

The Action Plan outlined the current four key governance issues currently facing the Council along with agreed controls put in place to manage the issue and updates since the last report to the Committee on 9 December 2020.

The Action Plan outlined the current four key governance issues currently facing the Council along with agreed controls put in place to manage the issues since the last report to the Committee on 9 December 2020.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

The report sets out the proposed arrangements for completion of the

Annual Governance Statement for 2021/21. The final AGS will be produced and presented at the Audit Committee in September 2021 along with Annual Accounts.

Audit Committee is asked to approve the process for completion of the Statement.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed arrangements for the completion of the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2021-22.The final AGS would be produced and presented at the meeting of the Committee in September 2021, along with the Annual Accounts.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the process for completion of the Statement.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

The attached QAIP sets out the quality assurance arrangements in place for internal

audit for 2020/21 along with the self-assessment results of the QIAP for 2020/21 and the proposed basis that the Head of Internal Audit, Risk and Insurance will use for the external assessment of the Council’s internal audit function, which is required under the PSIAS.

Audit Committee is asked to note the QAIP and the results of the self-assessment.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the quality assurance arrangements in place for internal audit for 2020/21 along with the self-assessment results of the Quality Assurance and Investment Programme (QIAP) for 2020/21 and the proposed basis that the Head of Internal Audit, Risk and Insurance would use for the external assessment of the Council’s internal audit function, which was required under the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).

The following comments were made/issue raised:-

A Member enquired whether there were any patterns emerging from the feedback provided by the questionnaire.

RESOLVED – That the QAIP and the results of the self-assessment be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

The CRR reflects the changes to the Council’s overall risk profile. The Corporate Risk Register (CRR) was last updated and distributed to Audit Committee on the 9th December 2020.

The register has been updated to reflect changes in the corporate risk environment.

Audit Committee is asked to note the contents of the Corporate Risk Register.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which reflected the changes to the Council’s overall risk profile. The Corporate Risk Register had last been updated and presented to the Committee at its meeting held on 9 December 2020.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There were areas where major legislative changes would affect the programme. Change management was a corporate risk and part of Officers’ work was to manage that risk.

RESOLVED – That the changes to the corporate risk environment be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

The response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to the Redmond Review into local audit and the transparency of local authority financial reporting demonstrates a commitment by the government to supporting the resilience of the local audit framework

Audit Committee is asked to note the contents of the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had had ben circulated) setting out the response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to the Redmond Review into local audit and the transparency of local authority financial reporting, demonstrating a commitment by the Government to supporting the resilience of the local audit framework.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer)

This report provides a summary of the UK government’s response to COVID-19 to date. 

Audit Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

This report provides a summary of the UK government’s response to COVID-19 to date.

The report has been written by the National Audit Office (NAO).

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the UK Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic to date.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the Annual Audit letter provided by the External Auditor.

The Committee is requested to note the letter.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the External Auditor, Mazars, set out the Annual Audit letter for 2019/20 (copies of which had been circulated).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was clarified that there was no change to the Code of Practice. External auditors were being encouraged the shorten and simplify reporting procedures.

RESOLVED – That the Annual Audit Letter for 2019/2020 be noted.

To consider a report from the external auditor, Mazars.

The report provides a summary of the audit strategy memorandum 2020/21.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the External Auditor, Mazars, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the Audit Strategy Memorandum for 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Members were advised that this would be the last meeting of this Committee that Councillor John Pantall would be attending as he was not seeking re-election in the forthcoming local elections.

RESOLVED – That Councillor John Pantall be thanked for his services to the Council and this Committee, and offered Members best wishes for the future.