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.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared: - Councillor T M White declared a personal interest in Minute No.75 – Draft Statement of Accounts 2024/25.
Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) of the Governance & Audit Committee be approved as a correct record.
Resolved that: - 1) Councillor T M White be appointed as Governance & Audit Committee representative on the Strategic Governance Group for the remainder of the 2025/26 Municipal year. 2) The appointment of the reserve representative be deferred to the next scheduled meeting.
Simon Arthurs, Interim Head of Finance / Deputy S151 Officer presented the Draft Statement of Accounts for 2024/25 ‘for information’ and review. The Draft Accounts for 2024/25 had been prepared and were signed by the Section 151 Officer on 16 December 2025. A copy was appended at Appendix A of the report. It was confirmed that the Accounts had been formally presented to the Council’s auditors – Audit Wales, who had commenced the audit of the Accounts. It was explained that as part of the audit process, the Accounts would be made available for inspection by the public for a four-week period. Finance Department staff and colleagues from other departments, notably the Council’s Surveyors, were thanked by the Interim Head of Finance / Deputy S151 Officer for their work on the accounts, which was echoed by the Chair and the Committee. The Chair thanked the Officer for his summary, which included a brief explanation of: · The technical changes to leases and fixed assets (Property, Plant & Equipment) in the statements and notes which accounted for the majority of key changes compared to 2023/24. · The explanation on contingent liabilities. The Committee asked a number of technical questions of the Interim Head of Finance / Deputy Section 151 Officer, which included the following: - · Capital expenditure - an explanation of PWLB funding / internal borrowing. · Use of reserves and providing a 5-year profile in order for the Committee to review. The Interim Head of Finance would provide a response / provide the information in the Financial Statement. · Financial outlook for the Authority, including the 2027/28 forecast and Medium-Term Financial Plan. Projected figures in March 2024 and whether they would still be the same in 2027/28. · Pension liabilities, in particular reduced contributions due to the age profile of the workforce. It was explained that this was taken into account by the triennial valuation of the pension fund. · Staff resources going into 2026/27. It was explained that two accountants had been added to the Capital Finance Team. The new staff members would cover the capital programme and the production of the financial statement going forward. · Significant Issues – consideration be given to including the strategic risks as significant issues. · Staffing savings identified within the report. A response would be provided. · Borrowing procedures, including confirmation of the acceptable levels going forward, particularly in respect of pressures to proceed with the capital programme. It was confirmed that responses would be circulated to the Committee.
Steve Porter, Operations Manager for Community Housing and Carol Morgan, Head of Housing & Public Health presented a ‘for information’ report which provided an update on the Audit Wales report on temporary accommodation. It was outlined that the report provided the Committee with a summary of the recent Audit Wales report published in July 2025 on the cost and increases in demand for temporary accommodation, as well as identifying opportunities to improve the value for money of councils’ approaches. The report also provided an update on actions taken and planned in response to the recommendations. Gareth Jones, Audit Wales explained that Audit Wales undertook this review between September 2024 and April 2025. The methodology included reviewing key documents from all 22 councils. These included Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans, progress monitoring reports for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans, and Medium-Term Financial Plans. Also reviewed were workforce plans, business cases and tender documents to support the commissioning of temporary accommodation, documents that evidenced long-term demand modelling and planning and agreements that underpin key partnerships. Councillor Andrea Williams, Deputy Leader of the Council referred to the progress being made by the Authority, particularly the collaborative working being undertaken. She also emphasised the challenges being faced in housing throughout Wales. The Operations Manager for Community Housing provided a comprehensive explanation of the position regarding temporary housing in Swansea, the huge challenges being faced and the steps being made to reduce bed and breakfast accommodation. The Committee discussed the following: - · Homeless people arriving from outside Swansea, having a wider dialogue around the reasons for homelessness, why people are coming to Swansea and the different challenges faced by authorities throughout Wales. · The new way of working being introduced to address substance misuse treatment and harm reduction. It was explained that this would be led by health. · Good practices outlined in the report. · Impact of new legislation upon private landlords and the knock-on effects on the Council. · The current / future operational frameworks, particularly if there was an overarching framework that looked across not only homelessness but asylum and other factors that impacted upon homelessness. In addition, whether an overarching framework and possibly regional working was an option. · The effect of single person homelessness on modelling. · Above budget spends across Wales. A response would be provided by Audit Wales. · The background to the development of Llys Glas. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers for their report and requested that an update report be provided in January 2027.
Lee Cambule (Principal Officer – Tackling Poverty and Enabling Communities) presented a ‘for information’ report which provided a briefing on the progress being made against the Auditor General’s series of poverty reports published in 2022/23 and action that had been taken to deliver the recommendations as part of existing service delivery. It was added that since these reports the Audit Wales reports were published, the Council had completed a number of self-evaluations and planning activities, to identify the key actions needed. Three ot the reports included specific recommendations for local authorities (and other public service bodies) to consider and take forward. The Committee had previously been provided with updates on the progress of the work and the Council had now embedded all of the recommended activities into service and transformation delivery planning. The report at Appendix A provided an update on progress in delivering those actions and the recommendations of the Audit Wales report. Discussions took place on the following: - · Future progress being monitoring through the Audit Wales Recommendations Tracker Report. · Performance indicators – there was additional work needed with partner organisations to co-produce an action plan. This would be monitored going forward. Progress would also be monitored by Scrutiny. · The timeline for completion of ‘Time for Change’. The Chair thanked the Officer for his report and added that there was no requirement for a future report.
Ness Young, Director of Corporate Services and Michelle Davies, Cash Management & Accounts Receivable Manager presented a ‘for information’ report which provided an update on actions being taken across the Council to respond to the latest Internal Audit review of the Accounts Receivable function. It was outlined that since the last report, the Task and Finish Aged Debt Project Board has continued to make excellent progress and had completed all of its objectives. It was added that on 15 January 2024, the project baseline identified 6,272 un-progressed invoices over 365 days old, totalling £2.23 million (excluding those collected via Direct Debit). Collaborative efforts of service departments, Accounts Receivable and Legal Teams over the last 2 years had reduced the current figure to just 255 invoices for a total value of £151,013 – a 96% reduction in volume and a 93% reduction in value. Reference was made to the additional debt recovery work taken on by Legal Services, along with collaboration with Adult Services, Housing and Highways to tackle backlogs in these critical areas. It was noted that 6000 invoices owed by utility companies had been cleared, securing full payment and generating benefits for all Council departments involved. It was highlighted that the Internal Audit opinion had been raised to substantial following the most recent audit. The Chair and Committee congratulated the Officers and staff involved for a remarkable turnaround in a short period of time. The Committee discussed the following: - · The monthly process undertaken to monitor progress and tackle problems. · The benefits of the shared ownership approach taken. The Chair stated that as a result of the work completed, there was no requirement for a follow-up report. The ongoing monitoring of the service area would still be completed by Internal Audit.
The Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Monitoring Report was provided ‘for information’.
The Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2nd Quarter 2025/26 report was provided ‘for information’.
The Governance & Audit Committee Action Tracker was reported ‘for information’.
The Governance & Audit Committee Work Plan was reported ‘for information’.
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.