The Audit and Governance Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to convene on Thursday, 26 March 2026, to review the external auditor's final reports for the 2024/25 financial year and consider the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26. The meeting's agenda also included discussions on the council's work programme and action log.

External Auditor's Final Reports 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to receive and note the final reports from the external auditor, KPMG LLP, for the 2024/25 financial year. These reports included the Final Auditor's Annual Report and the Audit Findings Report (ISA260) for both Buckinghamshire Council and the Buckinghamshire Pension Fund. The external auditor's work on the 2024/25 financial period was concluded, with their audit plan for 2025/26 to be presented to the committee in early 2026/27. The reports detail findings related to financial sustainability, governance, and the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the council's service delivery.

Annual Governance Statement 2025/26

A draft of the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2025/26 was presented for the committee's approval. The AGS is a statutory document that comments on the effectiveness of the council's governance arrangements throughout the year. It is intended to be public-facing and written in an open and readable style, reflecting guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The draft AGS was noted to be consistent with the findings of annual reports from various bodies, including the Chief Finance Officer's Statutory Reports, the activity of Scrutiny Select Committees, and the Interim Auditor's Annual Report. The committee was also informed that members had been invited to submit comments on aspects of governance they wished to see included in the AGS, and that the Committee Chairman had met with the Leader and Chief Executive to discuss governance and the draft AGS.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme, which outlines the planned activities and topics for future meetings. This allows for forward planning and ensures that the committee addresses key governance and audit matters throughout the year.

Action Log

The committee was also set to review the action log, which tracks the progress of actions arising from previous meetings and audit reports. This ensures that recommendations and decisions are implemented in a timely manner and that the committee can monitor their effectiveness. The action log indicated that some items were ongoing, requiring further updates at future meetings.

Other Matters

The agenda also included items for the exclusion of the public to resolve matters involving the likely disclosure of exempt information, and the approval of confidential minutes and updates on internal audits. These items typically relate to sensitive information that cannot be discussed in public session. The meeting was also scheduled to confirm the date of the next meeting.