Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff un ei ysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion. Mae'r agenda a'r papurau isod.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Jones and Councillor C Tovey.
No Declarations of Interest were made.
The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 11 September 2023 were accepted as a correct record.
Helen Harbord referred to the Action Log and updated the Committee on each action. Steve Jones also gave an update on Ref No 5 – Regional Bus Underspend and advised that the accounting was correct.
The Chair welcomed Councillor A Barry Cabinet Member, Suzanne Lewis-Abbott and Suzanne Stephens to the Meeting. Suzanne Stephens advised the Committee of the demands on the Service and the numbers involved and the percentage increase from quarter 1 to quarter 2. Suzanne Stephens also gave information on the pressures on the Service from issues such as the Cost of Living Crisis, Rent Increases and Landlords leaving the Market. Suzanne Lewis-Abbott also referred to the unprecedented pressures on the Service and gave details of finance. Suzanne Lewis-Abbott advised that the Department worked closely Welsh Government and outlined the key issues for Merthyr Tydfil. The Chair then referred to the Risk Register and would it be more suitable for the Scrutiny Committee covering Housing to look further at this matter. The following questions were then raised by the Committee and were responded to in detail by the appropriate Officer: · Grant money available to buy properties – Who would be the Owner and is the Authority working with a Social Landlord · Request for details to be supplied regarding the number of people in Band 1 and Band 2 on the Register · HMO’s and Social Housing – Is there a position of equilibrium – What is the increase in numbers – What is the rationale behind this The Chair then thanked the Officers for attending and the update to the Committee and that the Committee would consider to continue with this matter or to handover to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.
The Chair welcomed Alice King, Sara-Jane Byrne and Deb Woods of Audit Wales to the Meeting. Alice King together with Sara-Jane Byrne led the Committee through the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council – Detailed Audit Plan 2023 and together with the Officers responded in detail to the following questions raised: · Explanation on the process of re-evaluation – Is it a rolling programme – Is there any guidance available · Local Government Pension Scheme – Who is responsible for this and who are the auditors · Update on Statement of Accounts – Finalised by the end of November? – (Steve Jones advised that there would be the need for a Special Governance and Audit Committee and a Special Council in November) · Increase in Fees – Pressures on Local Authorities The Chair then thanked Audit Wales and the Officers for the update to the Committee.
Alice King and Sara-Jane Byrne led the Committee through the Audit Wales Work Programme and Timetable – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’ report and responded to the following questions raised: · Audit Wales working alongside Internal Audit - Could there be cost savings and more efficiencies of working together · Audit of Grant Claims and Returns – Should read February 2024 · National Review of Care Planning for Children and Young People – Is the publication date of November 2023 on track · Corporate Joint Committees(CJCs) – What is the scope of the work – Where would they report back to – Is it all Councils in the CJC’s area – Do CJC’s have a Governance and Audit Committee The Chair then thanked the Officers for the update to the Committee.
The Chair welcomed Saeif Jablaoui and Neill Howells to the Meeting. Saeif Jablaoui then led the Committee through the ‘Progress against External Audit Recommendations’ report and together with Councillor A Barry, Audit Wales and the Officers responded to the following questions raised: · Paragraph 2.2 – Should read historical · Lot of old recommendations that are not fully completed – Next steps · Wide ranging issues – How sighted are Cabinet Members and Directors on this – Could they be copied in · What is the Audit Wales assessment of this · R1 – Net zero ambition – Reason for the extension to April 2024 The Chair then thanked the Officers for the update to the Committee.
There was no report available for this item. The Committee were advised that staffing was an ongoing issue and was being addressed.
There was no report available for this item. The Committee were advised that staffing was an ongoing issue and was being addressed.
Steve Jones Head of Finance led the Committee through the ‘Audit Enquiries to those Charged with Governance and Management 2022/23’ report and together with Audit Wales responded to the following questions raised: · Why is there such a substantial change · Are there any responses where there are problems or concerns · Next Steps
Lisa Cumpston led the Committee through the ‘Progress against the Internal Audit Risk Based Plan (1 April 2023 to 13 October 2023)’ report and responded to the following questions raised: · Carried forward to a new year – Target this year being 80% - Is there a risk with always carrying forward – 20% complete – When get to the stage where an Opinion can be formed · Blessed Carlo Acutis – Limited Assurance – What is the response of the school – Will there be a follow up report The Chair then thanked Lisa Cumpston for the update to the Committee.
Lisa Cumpston led the Committee through the ‘Internal Audit Recommendation Monitoring 2023/24’ report and responded to the following questions raised: · Ones that are not yet due – Will it affect the target – In touch before the deadline The Chair thanked Lisa Cumpston for the update to the Committee.
Lisa Cumpston led the Committee through the ‘Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Programme 2023/24’ report. Reference was also made to the proposed Special Committee Meeting in November and that some items would be put to this Meeting.
The Chair referred the Committee to the Issued Internal Audit Reports. A Member referred to Off Site School Visits and recommend that this be looked at by the Learning and LGES Scrutiny Committee – If there were off site issues would a claim be made to the School or the Local Authority Budget. Safeguarding Arrangements 2023/24 -Context requested in relation to DBS checks. Waste Services – Income Collection – Update given by Helen Harbord.
Retirement of Steve Jones Head of Finance The Chair referred to the retirement of Steve Jones and wished him good luck for the future.
The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.