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.
No declarations of interest were made.
No members of the public were in attendance.
The action list from the previous meeting was noted. https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=jFaJUo_59GlwxMqQ&t=69 1. Update on the 3 ISA260 recommendations: OPEN
The Cabinet Member for Resources introduced the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024-2029. Following presentation of the report Members were invited to comment and ask questions. The Cabinet Member and Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Resources provided responses: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=wd_MjdEHwtT-nrd7&t=2804 Committee Members welcomed the first Medium Term Financial Strategy recognising the critical commitment to strengthening of the Council’s financial management arrangements with the aim of further improving its financial sustainability. Committee Members considered that the Financial Strategy provided a robust framework for understanding direction of travel, challenges and anticipated responses over time. The importance of codifying key assumptions and developing more sophisticated scenario modelling to highlight the range of plausible outcomes was explained. Given that Members had previously expressed a desire for a more sophisticated approach to modelling and better visibility of assumption setting, it was noted that good progress had been made. Members suggested that further, slightly more extreme but nonetheless plausible downside scenarios be considered in future updates so as to more fully recognise and plan for adverse outcomes. Expectations are that public spending in the medium term is going to continue to be constrained and there is a need to be prudent when planning for the future. In considering the Financial Strategy Delivery Plan, Members considered if there was a role for the Governance and Audit Committee in overseeing progress. It was concluded that six-monthly updates would be provided to the Committee to provide assurance in terms of progress. As contained in the report recommendations, the Governance and Audit Committee: i. scrutinised the Council’s proposed draft medium term financial strategy; ii. provided feedback and to allow for further comments to be considered and as necessary reflected in the final draft subsequently presented to Council for approval. In scrutinising the strategy specific regard was given to the Committee’s terms of reference that relate to the review and assessment of risk management, internal control, and corporate governance arrangements of the authority.
The Acting Chief Internal Auditor introduced the draft Annual Governance Statement. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions and responses were provided by the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Resources and Acting Chief Internal Auditor: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=RE5P7mO4saHTybV-&t=4404 As per the report recommendations: 1. The Governance & Audit Committee contributed to the appropriateness and content of the draft Annual Governance Statement (2023/24). 2. Considered the review of effectiveness and the assessment made against each of the governance principles. 3. The Committee endorsed the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion within the Draft Statement of Accounts 2023/24.
The Head of Torfaen County Borough Council Internal Audit presented the Internal Audit Plan and Annual Report for the Shared Resource Service (SRS). Following presentation of the report, Members commented and asked questions: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=oVXrlGmIuezumOd4&t=82 Aligned to the report recommendations the Committee noted the overall opinion provided by the Torfaen Head of Internal Audit.
The Vice Chair introduced the Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2023/24 and invited questions from Committee Members: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=eHLWvBiA9Li2R0dx&t=5317 As contained in the report recommendations, the Committee concluded that it had discharged its responsibilities during the 2023/24 period and as a consequence the Council can be reasonably assured over its work, outputs and conclusion that the Authority’s overall governance, risk and control arrangements are broadly effective. Notwithstanding this conclusion, these arrangements will likely need to continue evolving to reflect developments in its financial position and consequential changes to how the Council re-shapes it service delivery. During the year, the Committee considered all material elements of the Council’s governance, risk, financial control, and internal and external auditing arrangements. Given the critical importance of independent control assurance and effective financial management, the Committee has taken a keen interest in ensuring that the proposed target operating models (TOM) for the Council’s Internal Audit and Central Finance functions were appropriate, and are being implemented promptly. It is the Committee’s expectation that the TOM for these functions will have been substantively implemented by the Autumn. In discharging its responsibilities the Committee has legitimately challenged officers over the design and operating effectiveness of its risk and control infrastructure with officers generally responding positively to these challenges. The Committee endorsed the Annual Report for onward consideration by full Council.
Audit Wales Officers introduced the Audit Wales Digital Review and the Performance and Data Insight Manager presented the Management Response. Following presentation of the report, Members were invited to ask questions: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=T_49nRPKab93Lmxr&t=617
The Governance and Audit Committee Forward Work Plan was noted. https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=T7rK9q5zjgoTO91B&t=5342
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as an accurate record. https://www.youtube.com/live/LwieRlowWwU?si=MaJJlKiWH4Ul2leY&t=5389
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.