Havant Borough Council
Councillors:
36
Wards:
17
Committees:
35
Meetings (2025):
87
Meetings (2024):
96
Meeting
Audit and Finance Committee (2021 - 2024) - Havant
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 10th July 2023
5:40 PM
Monday, 10th July 2023
5:40 PM
End:
Monday, 10th July 2023
9:40 PM
Monday, 10th July 2023
9:40 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Monday, 10th July 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 10th July 2023
12:00 AM
Finished:
Monday, 10th July 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 10th July 2023
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023
Location:
Hurstwood Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX
Hurstwood Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX
Meeting Attendees
Chairman
Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Committee Member
Cabinet Lead for Climate Emergency, Environment & Water Quality (Climate Change Champion)
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Emma Carlyle
Expected
Officer
Executive Head of Regeneration and Economic Development
Wayne Layton
Not required
Committee Member
Cabinet Lead for Regeneration & Communities
Committee Member
Councillor Tom Moutray
Present, as expected
Council Staff
Executive Head of Commercial
Chris Bradley
Not required
Council Staff
Jane McEvoy
Not required
Secretary
Democratic & Electoral Services Manager
Jenni Harding
Expected
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Mark Gregory
Expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for Absence
To receive and record any apologies for absence.
Minutes
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Guest.
2
Minutes
To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Finance Committee held on 23rd March 2023.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 30 Jun 2023
Minutes
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Finance Committee held on 23 March 2023 were approved as a true record and be signed by the Chairman.
3
Declarations of Interests
To receive and record any declarations of interests from Members present.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.
4
Internal Audit Charter
Report number HBC/016/2023 attached.
Attachments:
- Document HBC Audit and Finance Committee - Internal Audit Charter 2023-24 (Covering Report) (003) 30 Jun 2023
- Document HBC Audit and Finance Committee - Internal Audit Charter 2023-24 (Appendix 1) 30 Jun 2023
Minutes
Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Audit Charter 2023-24, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.
Mr Harvey and the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee
The Internal Audit Charter formally defined the purpose, authority, and responsibilities for internal audit activity.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Charter 2023 -24 be approved.
Mr Harvey and the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee
The Internal Audit Charter formally defined the purpose, authority, and responsibilities for internal audit activity.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Charter 2023 -24 be approved.
5
Internal Audit Plan
Report number HBC/017/2023 attached.
Attachments:
Minutes
Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.
Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.
The Internal Audit Plan provided the mechanism through which the Chief Internal Auditor could ensure the most appropriate use of internal audit resources to provide a clear statement of assurance on risk management, internal control and governance arrangements.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.
Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.
The Internal Audit Plan provided the mechanism through which the Chief Internal Auditor could ensure the most appropriate use of internal audit resources to provide a clear statement of assurance on risk management, internal control and governance arrangements.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.
6
Internal Audit Report 22/23
Report number HBC/018/2023 attached.
Attachments:
Minutes
Mr Harvey of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership introduced the Internal Report for 22/23, which had been circulated as part of the agenda.
Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.
With regard to the debt management audit, which concluded with a “limited Assurance Opinion”, Mr Pink outlined measures being taken, including the adoption of a debt management policy (see Minute 17), to ensure the assurance opinions for this service received at least a “reasonable” level during 2023/24.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.
Mr Harvey and Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.
With regard to the debt management audit, which concluded with a “limited Assurance Opinion”, Mr Pink outlined measures being taken, including the adoption of a debt management policy (see Minute 17), to ensure the assurance opinions for this service received at least a “reasonable” level during 2023/24.
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/4 to 2025/6 be approved.
7
Annual Governance Statement
Report number HBC/019/2023 attached.
Attachments:
- Document HBC draft AGS 2022-23 Cover Report (1) 30 Jun 2023
- Document HBC AGS 2022-23 draft v2 30 Jun 2023
Minutes
Councillor Bowdell, Cabinet Lead for Finance introduced the draft Annual Statement, and gave Members of the Committee an opportunity to comment on it prior to the final version coming for approval alongside the Statement of Accounts 2022/23.
RESOLVED that the submitted Annual Governance Statement 2022-23 be approved for inclusion into the draft Statement of Accounts 2022-23.
RESOLVED that the submitted Annual Governance Statement 2022-23 be approved for inclusion into the draft Statement of Accounts 2022-23.
8
Corporate Governance and Risk Policy
Report number HBC/020/2023 attached.
Attachments:
- Document HBC draft CGP Risk 2022-23 Cover Report 30 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix A - HBC Corporate Governance Policy 2023 30 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 1 HBC Risk Matrix and Appetite 30 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 2 HBC Risk Management Framework 2023 30 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 3 HBC Local Code of Corporate Governance 30 Jun 2023
- Document Appendix 4 - HBC Top Corporate Risk 30 Jun 2023
Minutes
Councillor Bowdell, Cabinet Lead for Finance introduced the Corporate Governance and Risk Policy, which incorporated the Local Code of Corporate Governance.
RESOLVED that:
a. the Corporate Governance & Risk Policy be approved;
b. the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved; and
c. the Risk Management Framework and the latest top corporate risks as per the Corporate Risk Register be noted.
RESOLVED that:
a. the Corporate Governance & Risk Policy be approved;
b. the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved; and
c. the Risk Management Framework and the latest top corporate risks as per the Corporate Risk Register be noted.
9
Verbal Update on External Audit
Minutes
Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer, advised the Committee on how the national shortage of auditors was affecting the external audit reports and the publishing of the Council’s Statement of Accounts.
RESOLVED that the verbal report be noted.
RESOLVED that the verbal report be noted.
10
Debt Management Policy
Report number HBC/021/2023 attached.
Attachments:
- Document HBC Audit and Finance Committee - Debt Management Policy (Covering Report) 28.06.23 30 Jun 2023
- Document HBC Debt Management Policy - May 2023 30 Jun 2023
Minutes
Mr Pink, the Section 151 Officer, introduced the debt management policy and answered questions from Members of the Committee.
RESOLVED that the submitted debt management policy be approved.
RESOLVED that the submitted debt management policy be approved.
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