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Audit and Governance Committee - Monday 14th April, 2025 2.00 pm
April 14, 2025 Audit and Governance Committee View on council websiteSummary
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The North Northamptonshire Council Audit and Governance Committee met on 14 April 2025, and approved the risk management policy and strategy, the internal audit plan for 2025/26, the internal audit charter and mandate, and the interim report of the committee. The committee also reviewed the monitoring officer report, the external quality assessment of the internal audit service, and the internal audit progress report.
External Quality Assessment of Internal Audit Service
The committee reviewed the External Quality Assessment (EQA) of the Internal Audit service. The assessment, conducted by Business Risk Solutions, concluded that 'The North Northamptonshire Council internal audit service (NNCIAS) is delivering to a standard that generally conforms with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards'. The report highlighted several areas of good practice and a high level of stakeholder satisfaction.
The report also recommended areas for further development, particularly to ensure alignment with the new Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS). These recommendations will be incorporated into the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme.
Internal Audit Plan and Charter 2025/2026
The committee approved the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26, developed in line with the Global Internal Audit Standards, following consultation with senior management and the Audit and Governance Committee. The plan identifies key areas for audit coverage, including mandatory training, information governance, procurement compliance, budgetary control, cyber security, and ethical governance.
The committee also approved the revised Internal Audit Charter and Mandate, which aligns with the Global Internal Audit Standards, confirming the service’s rights of access, compliance with standards and role in supporting the council’s objectives.
Risk Management Policy and Strategy
The committee approved the Risk Management Policy and Strategy, which sets out how the council will manage risk in both routine operations and transformational activities. The policy explains how risk is managed at each level of the organisation and how a hierarchy of risk registers is used to communicate and escalate risks. The Executive Director of Finance, Claire Edwards, noted that only one small amendment had been made, expanding the requirement to report to the Executive to ‘at least annually’.
Monitoring Officer Report
The committee received the Monitoring Officer Report, which provided an overview of the function and activity of the Monitoring Officer, Kamila Coulson-Patel, linked to the terms of reference for the Audit and Governance Committee. The report detailed the role of the Monitoring Officer, and the statutory functions attached to the role linked to the scope of the Audit and Governance Committee. The report reflected on the period 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024, summarising how the Monitoring Officer's duties were discharged in accordance with legislation and the Council’s constitution.
The report highlighted an increase in detailed investigations carried out by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) in relation to services provided by North Northamptonshire Council, with 101 investigations in 2023/24 compared to 64 the previous year. The LGSCO also noted delays in responses being received in a timely manner for information requests.
Internal Audit Progress Report
The committee noted the Internal Audit progress report, which provided an update on the work of the Internal Audit team and the key findings from audits completed to date. The report summarised the key findings from seven audit assignments, including procurement compliance, temporary accommodation, Kettering Library roof project management, early years funding claims, backdated adult social care payments, external placements, and a schools thematic review.
The audit of procurement compliance identified cases where spend could not be matched to a contract register entry and a lack of consistent recording of quotations over £5,000 on the Contracts Register. The audit of early years funding claims highlighted that in 40% of settings, claims had been submitted for children for whom there was no signed, valid parental contract on file for the period.
The report also provided an overview of the implementation of agreed management actions, with 58 actions confirmed as implemented since the last committee meeting.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Members Declarations of Interest
Recommendations Approved -
Internal Audit Plan and Charter 2025/2026
Recommendations Approved...the Committee approved the Internal Audit Plan and Charter for 2025/2026, including a delegation to the Executive Director of Finance to agree to in-year amendments to the plan in consultation with the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee.
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Internal Audit Progress Report
Recommendations Approved... the Audit and Governance Committee of North Northamptonshire approved the recommendations within the Internal Audit Progress Report, noting the progress of the Internal Audit team's work, key findings from completed audits, and the status of agreed management actions.
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External Quality Assessment of Internal Audit Service
Recommendations Approved...the Audit and Governance Committee of North Northamptonshire approved the recommendations from the External Quality Assessment of the Internal Audit service, which found the service generally conforms with Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and provided suggestions for enhancement to align with the new Global Internal Audit Standards.
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Apologies for non-attendance
For Determination -
Close of Meeting
Recommendations Approved -
Monitoring Officer Report
Recommendations Approved...to note the Monitoring Officer's report and approve the recommendations for the Committee to provide feedback on areas of future work planning to be delivered by the Monitoring Officer in relation to governance.
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Interim Report of Audit & Governance Committee
Recommendations Approved...to comply with its terms of reference and best practice guidance, the Audit and Governance Committee approved the interim report of the Committee to inform the next annual report to Council.
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Risk Management Policy
Recommendations Approved... the Risk Management Policy and Strategy, which sets out how the Council will manage risk and explains risk management at each level of the organisation, was approved.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2025
Recommendations Approved...it approved the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2025, the draft Statement of Accounts for 2023/24, the updated Anti Money-Laundering Policy and guidance, and noted the Internal Audit progress, the planned review of the Whistleblowing Policy, and the draft Audit Findings Report, IT Audit Results Report, and Auditors Annual Report.
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