The Audit & Governance Committee of Boston Council met on Monday 29 June 2026 to review a range of financial and governance reports. Discussions were scheduled to cover the Council's risk management, combined assurance status, internal audit findings, unaudited financial statements, treasury management activities, and the draft annual governance statement for the 2025/26 financial year. The committee was also set to consider its work programme for the upcoming year.

Quarter 4 25/26 Risk Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Council's risk monitoring for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, as of the end of March 2026. This report, presented by John Medler, Service Director – Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer), would detail the Council's strategic, partnership, and fraud risks. It was intended to provide an overview of current risk scores, mitigation activities, and any movements in risk status since the previous quarter. The report aimed to support future planning and decision-making within the Council by monitoring governance and risk management.

Combined Assurance Status Report 2025/26

This report, also presented by John Medler, Service Director – Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer), was intended to provide a record of assurance against the Council's critical services and key projects for the 2025/26 period. The aim was to support the Council's commitment to good corporate governance by detailing the methodology used, the levels of assurance identified, and highlighting any potential 'unknowns or gaps'. The report was expected to offer a triangulated view of assurance, incorporating opinions from management, corporate functions, third-party assurances, and Internal Audit. The committee was asked to review this report to assure itself that the Council's assurance framework was operating effectively.

Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion 2025/26

Mark Harrison, Audit Manager from Lincolnshire County Council, was scheduled to present the Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion for 2025/26. This report is a crucial document for informing the Council's Annual Governance Statement. It was intended to conclude on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Council's governance, risk management, and control environment. The report was expected to cover the role of Internal Audit, their approach, the scope of their work during the year, their overall opinion, and observations on governance, risk, and control. It would also include details on quality assurance, conformance, performance, and a summary of all audit reviews completed in 2025/26.

Unaudited Financial Statement 2025/26

Russell Stone, Executive Director - Finance (Section 151 Officer), was due to present the unaudited Financial Statements for the 2025/26 financial year. These statements, including the Narrative Report, were to be reviewed by the committee as part of best practice and to facilitate challenge. The report was expected to detail the Council's income and expenditure for the year, its financial position as at 31 March 2026, and outline the key changes and financial performance. The committee was asked to note that further adjustments might be made before the final publication of the statements.

Annual Treasury Report 2025/26

This report, also presented by Russell Stone, Executive Director - Finance (Section 151 Officer), was intended to provide members with a review of the Council's treasury management activities and actual prudential and treasury indicators for the 2025/26 financial year. In line with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Code of Practice on Treasury Management, the report was expected to cover capital expenditure and financing, an economic update, a review of the Council's investment and borrowing strategies, debt position, and compliance with treasury and prudential indicators.

Draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2025/26

Presented by Russell Stone, Executive Director – Finance (Section 151 Officer), and John Medler, Service Director – Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer), this report contained the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26. The statement reviews the effectiveness of the Council's governance arrangements throughout the financial year and includes a proposed Action Plan for improvements in 2026/27. The committee was asked to review and comment on this draft statement, which is a statutory requirement and aligns with corporate governance best practice.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider its work programme for the upcoming year, 2026–27. This item allows members to review and plan the topics and reports that will be brought before the committee in the future, ensuring that statutory, regulatory, and governance responsibilities continue to be met.