The Audit Committee of Reigate and Banstead Council convened on Wednesday 12 June 2024. Councillor Essex was elected as Chair and Councillor Green as Vice-Chair for the 2024-2025 municipal year. The committee also agreed to reschedule the July meeting from the 3rd to the 10th due to the pre-election period for the general election.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

Councillor Essex was elected as Chair of the Audit Committee for the 2024-2025 municipal year. The nomination was unopposed and received general assent from the committee members. Subsequently, Councillor Green was elected as Vice-Chair, also without opposition.

Pre-Election Period Guidance

Councillor Essex reminded the committee of the guidance issued by the monitoring officer regarding conduct during the pre-election period for the general election on 4 July. Members were advised to avoid endorsing or referencing any candidates or political parties and to maintain the political impartiality of officers.

Change of Meeting Date

The committee discussed and agreed to reschedule the July meeting from the 3rd to the 10th. This change was recommended by the officers to accommodate the additional demands placed on council staff during the pre-election period. Councillor Green supported the recommendation, and it was agreed by the committee.

Attendance and Apologies

Apologies were received from Councillor Buteroni, with Councillor Fairhurst attending as his substitute.

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest from the committee members.

Adjournment Procedures

Councillor Essex outlined the procedures for adjourning the meeting if necessary, including pausing and resuming the live stream and advising attendees to mute their microphones and turn off their video if attending remotely.

Attendance of Officers and External Representatives

The meeting was attended by several council officers, including Pat Mayne, Chief Finance Officer, and Joyce Hamilton from Legal Services. Representatives from the Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP), Natalie Gerams and Neil Pittman, were also present.

For more details, you can refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Printed minutes of the meeting.