The Audit and Standards Advisory Committee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 16 June 2026, with a key focus on reviewing the council's annual reports concerning standards, internal audit, and counter-fraud activities. The committee will also consider the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2025-26 and the external audit plan for the upcoming year.

Annual Standards Report for 2025

The committee is set to receive the Monitoring Officer's Annual Report for 2025, which will provide an update on member conduct issues and the work undertaken by the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee (ASAC), the Audit and Standards Committee (ASC), and the Monitoring Officer throughout the year. This report will also include quarterly updates on gifts and hospitality registered by members for the third and fourth quarters of 2025-26, as well as the status of member training following the May 2026 elections. A proposed amendment to the Members' Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure, which would extend the normal deadline for initial assessments to 15 working days, is also scheduled for consideration.

Internal Audit Annual Report 2025-26

This report will summarise the activities of Internal Audit for the financial year 2025-26. It will provide an update on work completed since December 2025, including a review of the Internal Audit Plan's delivery, key findings from audit work, and the extent to which agreed management actions have been implemented. Crucially, the report will include the Head of Internal Audit's annual opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the council's framework for governance, risk management, and control, which will support the Council's Annual Governance Statement.

Annual Counter Fraud Report 2025-26

The committee is scheduled to review a summary of counter fraud activities undertaken in 2025-26. This will encompass both proactive and reactive work across various fraud risks, including internal fraud, housing tenancy fraud, and external fraud. The report will also fulfil the requirements of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, which mandates the publication of details regarding counter-fraud activities.

Annual Governance Statement 2025-26

This report presents the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2025-26, as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (as amended). The AGS details the outcome of the annual review of the effectiveness of the council's governance framework, including its system of internal control. The format and structure of the AGS have been refreshed for this year, aligning with the CIPFA/SOLACE Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework Addendum (2025). The committee's consideration of this statement precedes its referral to the Audit and Standards Committee for formal approval.

Draft External Audit Plan 2026-27

The committee will receive and consider the Indicative External Audit Plans for the London Borough of Brent, including the Pension Fund, for the year ending 31 March 2026. This plan outlines the scope and approach of the external audit for the upcoming financial year.

Audit & Standards Advisory Committee Forward Plan & Work Programme for 2026-27

The committee will consider its work programme for the 2026-27 Municipal Year. This includes noting the dates identified for future meetings, which are scheduled to commence at 6pm and will be held in person at Brent Civic Centre.

The meeting will also include standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, deputations, and the minutes of the previous meeting and action log.