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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
1.1. The Strategic Director for Transformation and Corporate presented the item and asked that the Committee propose and vote on a chairperson and deputy chairperson for the forthcoming year. Recommendations 1.2. The Committee appointed G Chapman as Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee for 2025/26. 1.3. The Committee appointed D Reed as Deputy Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee for 2025/26.
2.1. Councillors J Jordan, J Reynolds and B Perkins
None.
4.1. Members considered the accuracy and format of the minutes. To access a full recording of the discussion please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. NCC Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd This document is available in welsh / Mae'r ddogfen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg Recommendations 4.2. The Committee requested the minutes be reassessed to include some summary information on officer reports. 4.3. The Committee approved the minutes as a true and accurate record.
Recommendations 4a.1. The Committee requested the Asylum Seeker Imprest Account call-in be scheduled for the July Committee if feasible. 4a.2. The Committee requested completed actions to be taken off the recommendation table.
5.1. The Head of Infrastructure and the Service Manager-Transport presented a summary of the report. Recommendations 5.2. The Committee noted the report and awaited the results of the reaudit. 5.3. The Committee questioned whether the contract to procure Fleet & Vehicle Maintenance Services appeared on the council’s contract register.
6.1. The Audit Wales representative presented a summary of the report. £120 million were certified during the 2023/24 period. The Department of Work and Pensions require 40 items of testing per error found in the previous year, 6 errors were found within the previous year leading to 240 items of testing. The fee was being lowered due to the trend in reduced issues and errors. Recommendation 6.2. The Committee noted the contents of the report.
7.1. The Audit Wales representative presented a summary of the report. The Unscheduled Care thematic review has been published with the report due to appear in Committee in July. The Childrens Service Review has replaced the Financial Constraints or Discretionary Local Government Services Review on the work programme. Recommendations 7.2. The Committee noted the contents of the report. 7.3. The Committee requested the report on temporary accommodation be brought to Committee following publication. 7.4. The Committee would like thanks to be passed on to those who led to the positive Estyn report within Newport. 7.5. The Committee shared praise for the noted positive inspections of the Youth Services and the Youth Justice Services.
8.1. The SWAP Assistant Director presented a brief summary of the report. The rolling programme approach had been adapted in order to combat the changing nature of the council’s priorities. There would be more regular meetings with heads of services and directors, in order to better prioritise workload. SWAP undertakes an External Qualities Assessment every five years with the most recent showing conformance. The Global Internal Audit Standards require the use of an Internal Audit Charter. A presentation was provided to senior management and members explaining the Internal Audit Charter in more detail. Recommendations 8.2. The Committee would like the Internal Audit Charter to be amended to better reflect the employment structure as it relates to Newport and its constitution. 8.3. The Committee requested the Internal Audit Charter presentation slides be passed to all elected members of the council. 8.4. The Committee approved the internal audit planning approach for 2025/26, and the Internal Audit Charter.
9.1. The SWAP Assistant Director presented a brief summary of the report. The annual audit opinion for 2024/25 was reasonable. No audits identified as a significant corporate risk. 81% of audits received a substantial or reasonable audit opinion. 47 audits were delivered, which was 74% of the plan. 39% of follow up actions were not responded too. Fleet Vehicle Maintenance and Hospitality and Gifts were given a limited assurance in 2024/25. No thematic issues were highlighted. Recommendations 9.2. The Committee requested that the SWAP Assistant Director bring back an in-depth report covering progress against the actions made by the officers dealing with the limited assurance of Gifts and Hospitality, and should the committee wish to call the report in, it would follow from this. 9.3. The Committee requested that the SWAP Assistant Director provide information relating to mitigating action of the risk on page 73 of the agenda. 9.4. The Committee requested that the SWAP Assistant Director provide assurance on the four deferred audits noted on page 83 of the agenda. 9.5. The Committee requested that the SWAP Assistant Director provide clarification on the four recommendations that were not implemented as highlighted on page 84 of the agenda. 9.6. The Committee noted the overall audit opinion and approved the report.
10.1. The Senior Finance Business Partner (Chief Accountant) provided a summary of the report. The Council’s net borrowing was £156 million which was an increase of £33 million compared to March 2024. There has been no significant change in investment activities from 2024. The council noncompliance of PIs shows the sensitive nature of the council’s treasury position. Recommendations 10.2. The Committee noted the contents of the report. 10.3. The Committee highlighted noncompliance with the performance indicators (PIs) to be noted, found in paragraph 19-21 on page 99. The Senior Finance Business Partner (Chief Accountant) advised that this would be raised as part of the reporting to Cabinet. 10.4. The Committee noted that the interest exposure on page 112 of the report pack highlighted two instances that were not complied with and would like this to be highlighted in the subsequent report to Cabinet.
11.1. The Head of People, Policy and Transformation provided a summary of the report. 15 risks were recorded with significant impact, seven were severe and eight were major. Changes to dates and actions would be expected between Quarter Four and Quarter One. Recommendations 11.2. The Committee requested an indicator be added to highlight actions that were ongoing as some do not have fixed completion dates. 11.3. The Committee noted the contents of the report.
12.1. The Governance Officer presented a summary of the report outlining the work programme for the Committee in the coming year. Recommendations 12.2. The Committee reiterated the desire for the Asylum Seekers Imprest Account report be brought forward on the work programme if feasible. 12.3. The Committee requested that a report on the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) training framework come to Committee.
Thursday 31 July 2025 at 5pm.
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