To approve as a true and accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2026.

Public addresses relating to matters of business for this agenda, up to five minutes is available for each public address.

The request to speak accompanied by the full text of the address must be received by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy by 5.00 pm on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Councillor addresses relating to matters of business for this agenda, up to five minutes is available for each address.

The request should be received by the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy by 5.00 pm on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Report of: The Interim Group Finance Director

Purpose of the report: To update the Audit and Governance Committee on corporate and service risks as of 31 May 2026.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Review the Risk Management report and note its contents.

Report of: The Interim Group Finance Manager (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report: To seek approval of the updated Anti-Bribery, Fraud and Corruption Policy.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Approve the updated Anti-Bribery, Fraud and Corruption Policy, as attached at Appendix 1.

The Audit and Governance Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the updated Anti-Bribery, Fraud, and Corruption Policy, as attached in appendix 1.

Report of: The Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of the report: To update the Audit and Governance Committee on the activity and performance of the Counter Fraud Team for the fiscal year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the contents of the report.

Report of: Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer) 

Purpose of report: to seek approval for the provisional External Audit Planning report for 2025-2026.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Approve it’s understanding of, and agreement to, the materiality and reporting levels of the provisional external Audit Planning report for 2025-2026.

The Audit and Governance Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve it’s understanding of, and agreement to, the materiality and reporting levels of the provisional external Audit Planning report for 2025-2026.

Report of: The Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of the report: To seek approval of the Internal Audit Plan 2026-2027.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.       Approve the Internal Audit Plan for 2026-2027;

2.       Delegate authority to the Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management and Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee to make minor amendments to the Internal Audit Plan.

The Audit and Governance Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the Internal Audit Plan for 2026-27;

2.    Delegate authority to the Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management and Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee to make minor amendments to the Internal Audit Plan.

Report of: The Interim Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of the report: To seek approval of the Internal Audit Opinion 2025-2026.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.       Approve the Internal Audit Annual Opinion for 2025-2026.

The Audit and Governance Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the Internal Audit Annual Opinion for 2026-2026.

Report of: The Internal Auditor, BDO

Purpose of report: To update the Audit and Governance Committee.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Note and discuss the report.

If the Committee wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding agenda items it will be necessary for the Committee to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(The Access to Information Procedure Rules – Section 15 of the Council’s Constitution – sets out the conditions under which the public can be excluded from meetings of the Council).

Report of: Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens’ Services

Purpose of report: to update the Audit and Governance Committee.  

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Note the report.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on 27 October 2026 at 6.00pm.