The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee of Southwark Council was scheduled to discuss the development of a new member induction and development programme, alongside an update on variable service charges. The committee was also set to review the council's corporate risk management framework and receive progress reports on internal audit activities.

Member Induction and Development Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider the development of the 2026 Member Induction Programme and the wider Member Development Programme. This initiative aims to provide councillors with enhanced knowledge and skills in areas such as strategic planning, financial oversight, and community engagement. The programme is informed by feedback from a training needs analysis and a Member Development Steering Group, which includes councillors such as Councillor Stephanie Cryan (Chair), Councillor Esme Hicks, Councillor Jane Salmon, and Councillor Bethan Roberts, alongside officers including Doreen Forrester-Brown, Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Assurance), and Chidi Agada, Head of Constitutional Services. The report highlighted that the programme is designed to align with the LGA Political Skills Framework¹ and contribute to achieving LGA Council Member Development Charter Accreditation. Recommendations were made for the committee to note the development of these programmes and the governance arrangements in place.

Variable Service Charges

A report was scheduled to be presented detailing the complexities of administering variable service charges for approximately 16,000 properties within the council's Homeownership portfolio. The report aimed to highlight the processes in place for the effective management of billing and collection, as well as the mechanisms for independent verification of the billing approach. It was noted that variable service charges are derived from the actual costs incurred by the Housing Revenue Account for communal services provided to tenants and homeowners. The report also indicated that significant work is underway as part of the Housing Improvement Programme and the Corporate Transformation Programme to further enhance oversight and improvements in governance, system controls, procurement, contract management, and data integrity.

Internal Audit Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the work undertaken and the results of audits completed as part of the 2025-26 internal audit plan. This report, prepared by BDO, provides an assessment of the systems reviewed and outlines recommendations raised. The report indicated a high implementation rate for previous recommendations, with 94.9% of high and medium priority recommendations from 2022-23 to 2025-26 being fully implemented or superseded by the end of December 2025. The report also detailed the status of audits within the internal audit schools programme and non-audit plan work completed since the last meeting.

Annual Report on Corporate Risk

The committee was scheduled to review the council's corporate risk management arrangements, including an update on the council's risk profile and risk categories. The report outlined the main purposes of the corporate risk management process, which include identifying significant risks, consolidating common issues, and ensuring effective management to meet corporate and business objectives. The report detailed the risk categories used by the council, such as Economic, Financial, Reputational, Staffing & Culture, Operational, and Legal & Regulatory, and provided a breakdown of the number of risks by category for January 2025 and January 2026. The committee was asked to review the current assurance framework and provide comments prior to its finalisation.

Report on the Operational Use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)

This report was scheduled to provide information on the council's use of powers under RIPA in 2025. RIPA regulates the use of investigatory powers by local authorities to ensure lawful and proportionate use of covert surveillance and information gathering methods for crime detection and prevention. The report noted that the council's use of these powers is subject to inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office. It was highlighted that no authorisations were sought in the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, and the council's RIPA policy and procedures were last fully reviewed in August 2019.

Review of Complaints Made Under the Members' Code of Conduct in 2025

The committee was scheduled to review complaints made under the Members' Code of Conduct during 2025. The report indicated a decrease in the number of complaints received compared to previous years. It detailed that two complaints were from members of the public and two from councillors. In three cases, the monitoring officer decided no further action was necessary after an initial investigation, while the fourth case resulted in a local resolution. The report also mentioned proposed reforms to the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including a mandatory minimum prescribed code of conduct and enhanced sanctions.

Whistleblowing Complaints and Outcomes

This report was scheduled to provide details of whistleblowing referrals received by the council between October 2024 and September 2025, along with an update on the outcomes of referrals from the previous three years. The report defined what constitutes a whistleblowing issue, covering matters such as criminal activity, failure to comply with legal obligations, miscarriages of justice, and threats to health and safety or the environment. The table presented showed that four whistleblowing cases were received in the most recent period, with outcomes including one complaint not upheld and three resulting in action by the relevant department.

Annual Report on the Work and Performance of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee in 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to review its own work and performance during the 2025-26 municipal year. The report aimed to inform councillors of the committee's activities related to audit, financial reporting, treasury management, governance, and standards. It highlighted the committee's role in providing independent assurance on governance arrangements, risk management, and the control environment, as well as scrutinising financial and non-financial performance. The report detailed the committee's engagement with internal and external audit, its consideration of accounts, and its oversight of governance and standards matters, including discussions with strategic directors and the establishment of sub-committees for civic awards and conduct.

Annual Work Programme for the Following Year (2026-27)

The committee was scheduled to consider and agree its draft work programme for the 2026-27 municipal year. The proposed programme was based on the committee's terms of reference, covering areas such as audit activity, governance and standards, financial reporting, and treasury management. The report suggested continuing the approach of inviting chief officers to discuss departmental governance arrangements and also proposed considering specific areas of interest arising from internal audit updates for more in-depth discussion. Flexibility was noted to accommodate emerging issues throughout the year.

Appointment of Non-Voting Co-opted Members of the Civic Awards Sub-Committee for 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to consider nominations for four co-opted members to the Civic Awards Sub-Committee. These members are intended to bring expertise and understanding of the borough and its communities to the award selection process. The criteria for selection included familiarity with the Voluntary and Community Sector, the ability to evaluate nominations, and ideally, a sex balance and representation of the borough's diversity within the group. The report noted the sad passing of Ken Hayes, who previously represented the Southwark Civic Association, and that the committee would now determine the appointment for that place.