Havant Borough Council Audit and Finance Committee (2021 - 2024) Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Prad Bains and Guest.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Audit and Finance Committee held on 9 June and 27 July 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Committee considered the report presented by Antony Harvey and Mark Norton of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership, who joined the meeting for the debate on this item and answered member’s questions in connection with the report.

The paper provided an update on the progress of internal audit activity completed in accordance with the approved audit plan, and summarised the status of ‘live’ reports. The Committee also received a September update on progress made with the audit actions. The Committee noted that a number of actions had been put back due to redeployment of staff during the Covid 19 pandemic

RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Progress Report, reflecting progress to 31 July 2021, as submitted be noted.

Mr Suter and Mr Jones, on behalf of the Council’s external auditors presented the Annual Audit letter 2019/20, which was a summary of the Audit Results Report.

Mr Suter, Mr Jones and the officers answered questions raised by members of the Committee relating on property and asset valuation.

Resolved that the Annual Audit Letter for 2019/20 as submitted be noted.

The Committee considered a report setting out the summary position regarding the provisional revenue and capital outturn for 2020/21.

The officers answered questions raised by members of the Committee.

The officers agreed to circulate details of the Key Performance Indicators referred to on page 65 of the report.

Resolved that:

a.         the outturn for the General Revenue Fund, subject to external audit, of a General Fund underspend of £0.188 million;

b.         the transfers to the General Revenue Fund and Earmarked reserves, as set out in Table 3 (Earmarked Reserve Movements) of the submitted report; and

c.         The position of the 2020/21 capital programme as at Outturn (31 March 2021)

be noted.

The Committee considered a strategic overview of performance for Quarter One 2021/22 in relation to the corporate priorities in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Officers and the Cabinet Lead for Finance, Regeneration and Estates answered questions relating to the report submitted.

The Committee was advised that future reports would split the employment figures into the number of full time and part time staff employed by the Council.

RESOLVED that

a.         the revenue and forecast variance outturn for 2021/22 in Appendices A of the submitted report; and

b.         the summary performance information at Appendix B of the submitted report for services

be noted.