The Audit and Standards Committee of Stroud Council met on Tuesday 24 September 2024 to review the council's financial performance and governance arrangements. Key discussions were scheduled to include the counter fraud and enforcement unit's activities, the external audit for the 2022/23 financial year, and the approval of the Statement of Accounts for the same period. The committee was also set to receive an update on treasury management activities for the first quarter of 2024/25, alongside information sheets on corporate care standards and the corporate risk register.

Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Update Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the activities of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU). This report aimed to provide assurance on the council's counter-fraud measures, detailing progress and results. The CFEU works collaboratively with other Gloucestershire local authorities and public sector bodies to prevent and detect fraud. In the 2023/24 data sets, 1,116 Council Tax-related matches were received and were under review. The unit also undertakes a range of enforcement and investigation work, including cases related to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and tenancy fraud.

External Audit 2022/23 Update

Members were to be informed of the progress of the external audit for the 2022/23 financial year. The report from Deloitte, the external auditor, indicated that the audit was substantially complete, subject to the finalisation of certain matters including the consolidation pack for Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and receipt of management representation letters. Deloitte's report highlighted that they had not identified any risks of significant weakness in the council's arrangements for economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the use of resources. The auditors anticipated issuing an unmodified audit opinion.

Statement of Accounts 2022/23

The committee was scheduled to approve the Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023 and receive Deloitte's audit opinion. This included reviewing changes made to the accounts since the unaudited version was signed off. The Statement of Accounts comprises four core financial statements: the Movement in Reserves Statement, the Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement, the Balance Sheet, and the Cash Flow Statement. The Chief Financial Officer's Narrative Report within the Statement of Accounts highlighted that 2022/23 had been a challenging financial year due to high inflation, but the council had maintained high-quality services without damaging its financial position.

Treasury Management Report Quarter 1 2024/25

This report was intended to provide an update on treasury management activities as at 30 June 2024. It covered the council's investment portfolio, borrowing strategy, and compliance with treasury and prudential limits. The council's investment priorities were outlined as security of capital, liquidity, yield, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. The report indicated that the council would continue to invest for the longest permitted duration with quality counterparties to maximise returns, while also considering ESG ratings. The investment portfolio yield for the first quarter was detailed, along with benchmarked returns for specified investments and funds.

Corporate Care Standards Performance Update

This information sheet was scheduled to provide an overview of the council's performance against its Service Standards for the 2023 calendar year. The standards, adopted in July 2022, cover customer care principles such as being helpful, fair, friendly, and accessible, as well as response times for various contact channels. The report included key telephone contact data, showing the number of calls received and the percentage answered, alongside average telephone answered times. It also detailed email contact and response times, and performance against complaint, Freedom of Information (FOI), and Subject Access Request (SAR) response times.

Standing Items

Corporate Risk Register Update: The committee was to receive an update on the Strategic Risk Register, noting any changes made since the previous meeting. This included a review of existing risks, the addition of new risks such as non-compliance with the Social Housing (Regulation) Act and fraud and corruption impacts, and the deletion of any risks.

Work Programme: The committee was scheduled to consider its work programme, outlining reports planned for future meetings.

Internal Audit Activity Progress Report 2024-25

This report was intended to inform members of the progress of internal audit activities in relation to the approved Internal Audit Plan for 2024-25. It summarised the progress against the plan, the outcomes of audits delivered up to mid-August 2024, and the number of open recommendations from previous years. Audits completed included Payroll Administration and Grant Certification for the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2. The report also detailed the ongoing process for monitoring audit recommendations, including the introduction of a new system to support oversight.