The Governance and Audit Committee of South Holland Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, 29 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the external audit's year-end report for 2024/2025, an update on the council's risk management, and a discussion on the proposed treasury management policies for 2026/27.

External Audit Year End Report 2024/2025

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

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

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to providing pre-decision scrutiny of the draft treasury management documents for the 2026/27 financial year. These include the Treasury Management Policy Statement, the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement, and the Annual Investment Strategy. The committee will also review the Treasury Management & Investment Management (Non-Treasury) Principles and Practices. These documents, prepared by Russell Stone, Director of Finance (S151 Officer), and Sean Howsam, Treasury & Investments Manager (PSPSL), outline the council's approach to borrowing, investments, and managing financial risks. The proposals include an increase in the operational boundary for external borrowing from £111 million to £115 million and the authorised borrowing limit from £115 million to £119 million. The committee's comments and suggestions will be considered by the Cabinet and Council as part of the budget-setting process.

Internal Audit Progress Report - January 2026

The committee will receive an update on internal audit activity as of January 2026 from the Head of Internal Audit for Lincolnshire County Council. This report will summarise the status of ongoing internal audits, provide a performance dashboard, and discuss planning and resourcing. It will also highlight any overdue management actions. The report indicates that 62.5% of the internal audit plan has been completed by the end of quarter three, with no immediate concerns regarding delivery or staffing.

Q2 Risk Report 2025/26

An update on the council's risk management will be provided through the Q2 Risk Report 2025/26, prepared by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance. This report will detail the council's strategic and operational risk registers, including an analysis of fraud risks and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) risks. The report highlights that while many strategic risks are being managed at their target level, some, such as 'Retention of staff', 'Cyber Incident', 'Implementation of the Environment Act 2021', and 'Waste Collection Round Pressures', are noted as 'Not at Target'. The partnership risks for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) will also be reviewed, with 'Funding' and 'Staffing' identified as 'Not on Target'.

Whistleblowing Policy

The committee is asked to consider an updated Whistleblowing Policy, aiming to align the document across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (S&ELCP). The revised policy, prepared by Rebecca James, Scrutiny & Policy Officer, aims to encourage workers to raise concerns about suspected wrongdoing without fear of reprisal and outlines the procedures for doing so. The policy confirms statutory protections under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and details how concerns will be responded to, including potential investigations or referrals to external bodies. The Monitoring Officer will be delegated authority to make minor amendments to the policy.

Governance & Audit Personal Skills Audit

Rebecca James, Scrutiny & Policy Officer, will present the Governance & Audit Personal Skills Audit. This initiative is designed to assess the current knowledge, skills, and training needs of the committee members. The findings will inform the committee's self-assessment process and identify areas for development to ensure effective oversight of governance and audit matters. The report includes a skills audit document and the CIPFA knowledge and skills framework.

Governance and Audit Committee Work Programme

Andrea Tait, Democratic Services Officer, will present the Governance and Audit Committee Work Programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. This report outlines the scheduled items for each meeting, including regular reports from Internal Audit, External Audit, and the S151 Officer, as well as any ad hoc issues. The work programme is intended to be a clear and structured document to ensure the committee's work remains relevant and up-to-date. An updated training record is also included.