Havant Borough Council
Councillors:
36
Wards:
17
Committees:
35
Meetings (2025):
88
Meetings (2024):
96
Meeting
Governance Committee - Havant
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
5:30 PM
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
5:30 PM
End:
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
9:30 PM
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
09 Sep 2025
09 Sep 2025
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
Committee Member
Councillor Elizabeth Lloyd (formerly known as Dianne)
Independent for Stakes
Present, as expected
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Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Mark Gregory
Expected
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Emma Carlyle
Expected
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Ernest Lam
Expected
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Lauren Maidens
Expected
Public
Spare Copies
Expected
Vice-Chairman
Vice Chairman of Governance Committee
Committee Member
Vice Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Standing Deputy
Deputy Mayor of the Council and Vice Chairman of Licensing Committee
Chairman
Chairman of Governance Committee
ex-Officio
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cabinet Lead for Finance, Leader of Liberal Democratic Party, Vice Chairman of Human Resources Committee
Deputee
Leader of the Green Party & Cabinet Lead Commercial
Agenda
1
Apologies for Absence
To receive and record any apologies for absence.
Minutes
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Forrow.
2
Minutes
To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 03 June 2025 and 08 July 2025.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 03/06/2025 Governance Committee 01 Sep 2025
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 08/07/2025 Governance Committee 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 03 June 2025 and 08 July 2025 were approved as a true record and 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
Management Response to outstanding Internal Audit actions
Attachments:
- Document Management Response Report 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item to the Committee, and highlighted Housing and Commercial being the two key areas where there were a number of outstanding actions yet to be completed by the Council.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, Members moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee note the report.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, Members moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee note the report.
5
Internal Audit Annual Opinion 2024-25
Attachments:
- Document Annual Internal Audit Conclusion Report 01 Sep 2025
- Document Annual Internal Audit Conclusion Report Appendix 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item. The Chief Internal Auditor, Mr Harvey, added that the report concluded that the Council’s framework of governance, risk management and management control were considered to be ‘reasonable’. He has also highlighted some service areas of the Council that was classed as having ‘limited assurance’, such as the tackling of homelessness. However, considerable efforts were put in and improvements were made compared to the last municipal year.
The committee discussed the report in detail.
During the question and answer session, Members of the Committee have raised concerns towards the absence of management procedure on safeguarding within the Council, and requested that a report regarding the issue be brought to a future Committee meeting.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee would consider the contents of the Annual Internal Audit Conclusion Report 2024-25 and accept its findings.
The committee discussed the report in detail.
During the question and answer session, Members of the Committee have raised concerns towards the absence of management procedure on safeguarding within the Council, and requested that a report regarding the issue be brought to a future Committee meeting.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee would consider the contents of the Annual Internal Audit Conclusion Report 2024-25 and accept its findings.
6
Internal Audit Progress Report 2025-26
Attachments:
- Document Internal Audit Progress Report 01 Sep 2025
- Document Internal Audit Progress Appendix 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item. The Chief Internal Auditor reported that the management team of the Council were in early stages of deliverance of council’s implementation plan, but good progress has been made. He also highlighted some of the overdue management actions listed in the analysis of ‘Live Audit Reviews’ chart, where the management team have been actively addressing them.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that Governance Committee would consider the Internal Audit Progress Report 2025-26 (August 2025) and the Council’s progress with implementing management actions that have been agreed following audit reviews.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that Governance Committee would consider the Internal Audit Progress Report 2025-26 (August 2025) and the Council’s progress with implementing management actions that have been agreed following audit reviews.
7
External Quality Assessment 2025
Attachments:
- Document External Quality Assessment 25 Report 01 Sep 2025
- Document External Quality Assessment 25 Appendix 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item. The Chief Internal Auditor, Mr Harvey stated the recommended approach for the Council would be for Southern internal Audit Partnership to conduct their external assessment as a Self-Assessment with Independent Validation as outlined in the cover report.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Committee would consider the arrangements for the external assessment of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership against the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector, as proposed in paragraph 2.27.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that the Committee would consider the arrangements for the external assessment of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership against the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector, as proposed in paragraph 2.27.
8
Internal Audit Strategy 2025-28
Attachments:
- Document Internal Audit Strategy 25-28 Report 01 Sep 2025
- Document Internal Audit Strategy Appendix A 01 Sep 2025
- Document Internal Audit Strategy Appendix B 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item, and the Chief Internal Auditor explained the approach of the new Internal Audit Strategy.
It was RESOLVED that the Committee would consider the Internal Audit Strategy 2025- 28 following its adoption by Internal Audit.
It was RESOLVED that the Committee would consider the Internal Audit Strategy 2025- 28 following its adoption by Internal Audit.
9
Treasury Management Outturn Report 24/25
Attachments:
- Document Treasury Mgmt Outrun Report 01 Sep 2025
- Document Appendix A - Treasury Mgmt Outrun 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Chief Finance Officer introduced the item.
Councillor Bowdell expressed his thanks towards the Council’s finance team for their work.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee would accept the Annual Treasury Management Outturn Report 2024/25 and consider the Councils performance against approved Prudential and Treasury Indicators.
Councillor Bowdell expressed his thanks towards the Council’s finance team for their work.
It was RESOLVED that the Governance Committee would accept the Annual Treasury Management Outturn Report 2024/25 and consider the Councils performance against approved Prudential and Treasury Indicators.
10
Ombudsman Annual Review Letter
Attachments:
- Document Ombudsman Annual Review Letter Report 01 Sep 2025
Minutes
The Monitoring Officer introduced the item, and reported that there were a total of 2 ombudsman complaints lodged against the Council, with both complaints upheld. The number of complaints received and upheld were in line with other local authorities within Hampshire.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that Governance Committee receive and note the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review Letter.
The Committee discussed the report in detail.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee moved to a vote.
It was RESOLVED that Governance Committee receive and note the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review Letter.
Previous Meetings
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