The Governance and Audit Committee of South Holland Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 29 January 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of the external auditor's year-end report, proposed treasury management strategies for 2026/27, and updates on internal audit progress and risk management.

External Audit Year End Report 2024/2025

The committee was scheduled to consider the External Audit Year End Report for 2024/2025, provided by KPMG. This report, which follows up on a previous progress report, was expected to detail findings from the audit of South Holland District Council's financial statements. The report was anticipated to cover the council's arrangements for securing value for money, including financial sustainability, governance, and improvements in economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. It was also expected to highlight any performance improvement observations.

Draft Treasury Management Policy Statement, Strategy, and Annual Investment Strategy 2026/27

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to providing pre-decision scrutiny of treasury documents for the 2026/27 financial year. This included the Draft Treasury Management Policy Statement, the Draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, and the Annual Investment Strategy. These documents, prepared by the Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and Treasury & Investments Manager, outline the council's approach to borrowing, investments, and managing financial risks, in line with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management. Key proposals included an increase in the operational boundary for external borrowing and the authorised borrowing limit to provide flexibility for covering capital expenditure. The committee was also to review the Treasury Management & Investment Management (Non-Treasury) Principles and Practices.

Internal Audit Progress Report – January 2026

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on internal audit activity as of January 2026. The report from the Head of Internal Audit for Lincolnshire County Council was expected to summarise the progress of live audit reviews, provide a performance dashboard, and discuss planning and resourcing. It was noted that 62.5% of the audit plan was completed by the end of quarter three, with no immediate concerns regarding delivery or staffing. The report also highlighted a low response rate to post-audit feedback questionnaires, indicating a potential lack of management engagement with the internal audit service.

Q2 Risk Report 2025/26

An update on the council's risk management was scheduled for consideration, covering the period up to the end of September 2025. The report from the Assistant Director – Governance was expected to detail the council's strategic and operational risks, including those related to the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) and fraud risks. Enhancements to the report format were noted, aiming to improve clarity and focus on key areas of concern, including target status for strategic risks and mitigation action tracking. Several high-risk areas were identified, including the implementation of the Environment Act 2021, waste collection round pressures, budget uncertainties, and cyber incidents.

Whistleblowing Policy

The committee was to consider an updated Whistleblowing Policy for the council, with the intention of aligning it across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (S&ELCP). The policy, prepared by the Assistant Director, Governance, outlines the procedures for workers to raise concerns about suspected serious wrongdoing without fear of reprisal, in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. The report highlighted the legal protections afforded to whistleblowers and the process for handling disclosures, including how concerns would be responded to and investigated. The Monitoring Officer was to be delegated authority to make minor amendments to the policy.

Governance & Audit Personal Skills Audit

A report was scheduled to be presented to evaluate the knowledge and skills of the Governance and Audit Committee members. This personal skills audit was intended to feed into the committee's annual self-assessment process, identify areas for development, and ensure the committee collectively possesses the necessary expertise to effectively oversee governance and audit matters. The CIPFA knowledge and skills framework was to be used as a reference.

Governance and Audit Committee Work Programme

The committee was to review its Work Programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. This report, from the Democratic Services Manager, outlines the regular items scheduled for discussion, such as internal and external audit reports, financial items, and risk management updates. It also allows for the inclusion of ad hoc issues and proposed future training topics, ensuring the committee's work remains relevant and up-to-date. A schedule of training undertaken by committee members since 2023 was also to be presented.