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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
The Chairperson welcomed all to the meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 28 October 2025, were approved as a true and accurate account.
In relation to the ‘programmed in’ section on the Forward Work Programme, members asked if they could have more information on Review the relevant policies and procedures around the presentation of internal recharges report and Review of the effectiveness of the Governance and Audit Committee. These reports will be added to the FWP in the new cycle. Officers mentioned that training will take place within the 2026/2027 civic year. Members highlighted they would like the meeting with Standards Committee to be arranged as a matter of urgency. Democratic Officer will speak to the relevant Officer in charge of this.
Members received an overview of the circulated report. Members mentioned it would have been helpful if there was a pointer in the beginning of the report, as members don't understand what the data sets are and what the National Fraud Initiative is, then they could refer to Appendix 1 and 2. Officers welcomed the feedback from the report and mentioned that the initial goal was to make things concise to try and avoid duplication and will take on board for future reports. Members asked does the Council get any money from the allocation that has been provided for the NFI by the Welsh Government. Officers explained whilst there isn’t any additional funding, the match review can action identifying error areas and/or fraud risk areas where income recovery can occur.
Members received an overview of the circulated report. In relation to the triangulation of various risks, Members asked if Officers could provide an example of this. Officers explained they are developing a more holistic approach to monitoring the delivery of the Corporate Strategy. Officers explained in the past, they would have provided an update on progress madeagainst actions linked to each of the well-being objectives. Officers are expanding that to include other data sources, such as financial data where there is overspend or underspends in directorates and trying to link back to the delivery of the well-being objectives. In relation to risks, a piece of work has been done to link risks on the strategic risk register to the well-being objectives; by having this information, Officers will be able to report on the impacts. In addition to delivering against the well-being objectives, future reports will triangulate progress of actions and performance measures, risk, financial information, workforce data, and complaints and compliments data. Officers explained they are trying to have a more holistic, transparent view of the delivery of the Corporate Strategy. Officers explained they would update the committee on the progress with the tasks they’ve set themselves in the next six months and would like the report on an annual basis thereafter. Members mentioned they recognise the Council is on a journey in strengthening with the risk management arrangements, Members highlighted that it would be helpful how these are being implemented in practice, how is the Council ensuring this alignment is meaningful and embedded in decision-making. Officers explained that the linkages between the strategic risk register and theCorporate Strategy is a piece of work that's been completed, it is not documented in the version that members have in front of them on the strategic risk register. The committee will be able to gain assurance that that work has been completed and will be in the next report that you receive after May 2026. Officers referred to horizon scanning, which is one of the recommendations within the review. This piece of work has now been embedded as of March 2025, and is a regular report that gets presented to Strategic Leadership Team. Prepared by the Corporate Policy Officer the report reviews topics being discussedin Welsh Government, Senedd and the various Committees etc. Officers highlighted they are having discussions with strategic leadership team, such as different opportunities and what risks may be coming over the horizon. Some of the discussions may prompt additional risks being added to the register and whether there are any actions which need to be incorporated in the heads of service business plans etc.
Members received an overview of the circulated report. Members highlighted that there was a report in the press recently about closing deficits as far as education is concerned and asked where is that captured in the set of papers. Officers explained there will be a report going to Council in March in relation to the budget for 2026/2027. Officers highlighted that the investment into the local schools will address schools deficit, that hasn't yet been approved, if it is approved that will get reflected within the risk register with regards to a potential mitigation action. Members mentioned that the report does give a good update on the corporate risks that the authority faces but mentioned there's a couple of risk scores that have increased but couldn't see from the report as to why that risk score had increased and in some areas quite considerably. Members highlighted it is quite important the committee understands the reasons for that change in score movement. Officers explained that they do note on the pages where the scores have changed, but in future, will add in detail as to why those changes are being made. Members mentioned comments give direction of travel, but they don't have end dates. Officers explained they felt that a lot of the mitigating actions are ongoing, which is why they are noted as ongoing in blue and are constantly going to be reviewed on a quarterly basis, as opposed to those that are ‘in progress’ where there are end dates for. In relation to ‘in progress’, Officers highlighted a few months previous there weren’t any completion dates at all and it is something that has been introduced recently. Officers are working on this to get completion dates so that the committee will have more assurance around when that piece of work is likely to end. Members highlighted that they have discussed in previous committees some of the risk scoring and can see the work is being done to try to give more clarity. Looking at some of the risk items in terms of mitigation plans, Members mentioned they would like Officers to try to be a little bit more concise in some of the description of the key control leavers, this will give the Committee comfort without reading a full update Members wanted to give an example of this, SR03, on page 95, - ‘if there's no effective management system to address historical code tips and quarries risk’ The target risk score compared to the residual risk score needs to be looked at. Members asked is the funding for both coal tips and decarbonisation. Officers mentioned they will get this information to Members as soon as possible.
Members received an overview of the circulated report. Members highlighted that the font is small on the report and found it quite difficult to read. Officers mentioned they would provide a summary at the front of the report summarising the information in the table and would still have this data sitting in appendix for those who would like to read the wider information. Members mentioned they do take into context, the upfront covering paper does talk about the improvement actions and some of the achievements. It may be useful to try to determine if there are any risks or concerns that the committee should be made aware of.
Members received an overview of the circulated report. In relation to Page 132, Members highlighted the assurance outcomes table and queried whether the level of not applicable assurance opinions impacts the ability to give an overarching Head of Internal Audit opinion at year end. Officers confirmed that based on the current work mix for 25/26, Officers expect not applicable assurance outcomes to account for approximately 30% of total outcomes. Officers explained that not applicable assurance outcomes include grant certification, advisory pieces of work, outcomes against the National Fraud Initiative and special investigation reports. There is still assurance coming through from these activities (e.g. certification of a grant or charity accounts independent examination completion), however based on the type of assurance Internal Audit would not allocate an assurance opinion rating to them. Not applicable assurance outcomes do not prevent Officers from considering the related outcomes to get to the overarching year end opinion. In relation to schools outcomes reported in 2025/26 to date, unofficial fund controls are a recurring recommendation area. Members asked if schools receive an individual audit report and if there is anything that can be done with the wider risk theme across all schools. Officers confirmed that each school receives an audit report once the audit is concluded. Further actions on the area are also completed. For example, at year end there is a consolidated schools report that highlights common risk themes and control improvement opportunities. The consolidated report is circulated to all Head Teachers and the relevant directorate management team for awareness. Officer regularly link with the Finance, Bursar and centrally based Education teams to flag common risk areas, ensure awareness and discuss needed actions (e.g. guidance provision or update). This has included focus on unofficial funds guidance and controls in 2025/26. Officers also engage with the Head Teacher networks to flag things that are coming through the audits and where specific focus is needed. The next engagement exercise is April 2026 where Officers will be attending the primary school Head Teacher network.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
RESOLVED: that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
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