Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Hammond.

There were no declarations of interest declared at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2020 were confirmed by assent.

Councillor Wainwright referred to comments that had been made at the last meeting in regard to recommendation GY 1909 to pop-up food premises and takeaways. The Finance Director to be picked up as part of the Audit Plan for 2021-22. 

Member received and considered the report from the Internal Audit Manager.

The Internal Audit Manager reported that the report highlighted progress made between 24 November 2020 to 5 February 2021 in relation to the delivery of the revised Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2020/21 and included executive summaries in respect of the reviews which had been completed during this period.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee note the outcomes of the audits completed during this period and the progress to date.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Internal Audit Manager.

The Internal Audit Manager reported the latest progress made in relation to management implementation of agreed audit recommendations falling due by 5 February 2021.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee receives and notes the current position in relation to the implementation of agreed audit recommendations.

The Committee received and considered the report fro the Internal Audit Manager.

The Internal Audit Manager reported the results from the 2020 Audit & Risk Committee self-assessment exercise. The Internal Audit Manager recommended that the previous year's self-assessment exercise was reviewed and updated taking into account any progress made against agreed improvement actions.

Councillor Wainwright asked for clarification regarding the response to question 15 on page 38 of the report. The Internal Audit Manager gave the rationale behind the given response.

The Committee agreed that the production of an Annual Report of the Audit & Risk Committee to be presented to Council should be put on hold for a further 12 months due to the impact of Covid19 on staffing resources and further advice would be sought from the Monitoring Officer on how to proceed with this action.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee reviewed the 2020 self-assessment exercise and related improvement actions and through discussions had updated the assessment with progress and outlined new actions, if required.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Corporate Risk Officer.

The Finance Director reported the progress which had been made in relation to further work and actions required to address issues which had been identified in the Annual Governance Statement 2019/20.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee receives and notes the action taken to address the issues identified.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Corporate Risk Officer.

The Finance Director asked the Committee to review the Corporate Risk Register to determine whether the register correctly reflected the risks affecting the authority and to approve the revised layout of the Corporate Risk Register.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee agree that the Corporate Risk Register correctly reflected the risks affecting the authority and approved the revised layout of the Corporate Risk Register.

The Committee received and considered the Work Programme.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee note and agree the Work Programme.

The Finance Director gave an update in regard to the position regarding the fees payable to the external auditors for the Council for work undertaken during 2019/20.