The Governance and Audit Committee of Kent County Council met on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, to review a range of financial and risk management matters. The committee was scheduled to discuss the external auditor's progress report, the corporate risk register, and the statutory accounts for Kent County Council's wholly owned companies.

External Auditor's Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the external audit for Kent County Council and the Kent Pension Fund. This report, provided by Grant Thornton UK LLP, was expected to detail the status of the 2024/25 audit, including the signing of the financial statements and the ongoing procedures for the Whole of Government Accounts. It was also anticipated to outline the plans for the 2025/26 audit, including fieldwork for both the council and the pension fund, and the approach to the Value for Money assessment, which would focus on financial sustainability, governance, and the effective use of resources. The report also highlighted planned audit deliverables for 2025/26, such as the Audit Plan and the Auditor's Annual Report, and included sector updates on emerging issues relevant to local authorities.

Corporate Risk Register

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Corporate Risk Register. The committee was to be presented with an updated register reflecting new risks and changes in risk exposure due to internal and external events. Key changes noted were an increased risk rating for Risk of significant adverse variance to the level of savings and income agreed in KCC's budget (CRR0059) and Delivery Against Safety Valve Agreement (CRR0068), both now rated at the maximum level. Conversely, the risk associated with Capacity to Accommodate and care for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking (UAS) Children (CRR0063) had been de-escalated. The register also included a draft risk concerning Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) (CRR0069), capturing key risks from KCC's perspective. The report indicated that the Corporate Risk Register is reviewed quarterly and presented to Cabinet.

Review of Statutory Accounts for Kent County Council's Wholly Owned Companies

The committee was scheduled to review the statutory accounts for Kent County Council's wholly owned companies for the year ended 31 March 2025. The report provided a summary of key financial figures, including sales, costs, and profit or loss for each company. It highlighted that overall, the companies faced challenges such as public sector budget constraints, increased competition, and the pressure of absorbing inflation while investing in technology and personnel. The report noted that the joint ventures, which provide recruitment services, are 50% owned by Commercial Services and 50% by their respective local authority partners. It also detailed the financial returns to KCC, including dividends and contributions from services managed by Commercial Services on behalf of the council. The statutory accounts for these companies had been externally audited by UHY Hacker Young and received unqualified audit certificates.

Governance Arrangements for Wholly Owned Companies Presentation

Following the review of the statutory accounts, the committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the governance arrangements for Kent County Council's wholly owned companies. This presentation would likely elaborate on the oversight and management structures in place for these entities.

Other Scheduled Items

The meeting agenda also included standard items such as the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 26 November 2025, and a verbal update on committee business. An Internal Audit Progress Report was also listed, although it was marked as To Follow .