The Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss risk management, health and safety, standards of conduct, environmental and social governance, and support for the council's subsidiaries. The committee will also receive an external audit update from Bishop Fleming on the 2024-25 Statement of Accounts. Finally, they will review their work programme for the coming year.

Risk Management

The committee will be asked to note the Risk Monitoring Report Q1 2025/26, which provides an update on how well the council is managing its strategic risks. According to the report, the Corporate Leadership Team reviews the Leadership Risk Register every quarter, updating it as needed to manage risk effectively. The report notes that there were no score changes within the Leadership Risk Register during Quarter 1.

The Appendix 1 - Leadership Risk Register Q1 2025/26 contains details of strategic risks that could significantly impact the council's reputation and performance, particularly its ability to deliver on corporate priorities. Risks deemed as high (L01 and L05) and medium (L03, L04, L09, L10, L13, L14, L16 and L17) present higher scores, mostly due to the magnitude of the impact these events could have for the organisation. Mitigating actions are in place across them all to reduce the potential severity of the impact, and controls are established to prevent the probability of the risk event happening.

The Leadership Risk Register includes the following risks:

• Financial resilience
• Statutory functions
• CDC Local Plan
• Five Year Housing Land Supply
• Planning Applications for Major Development
• Business Continuity
• Emergency Planning
• Safeguarding the Vulnerable – Operational and partnership actions
• Health and safety
• Cyber Security
• Safeguarding the vulnerable - Internal procedures
• Sustainability of Council owned companies and delivery of planned financial and other objectives
• Financial sustainability of third-party suppliers
• Corporate Governance
• Monitoring and management of Major Infrastructure Projects and Programmes
• Workforce Strategy
• Local Government Reorganisation

Health and Safety

The committee will be asked to review the Health Safety Report Q1 2025.26, which provides an overview of the council's health and safety performance for the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report states that Cherwell District Council is committed to the health and safety of its 626 employees and others who may be affected by its activities. The report identifies Environmental Services teams as the highest risk area due to the nature of their work.

The report also provides an update on actions from the Veritau audit, vehicle incidents, personnel accidents, near misses, and sickness absence amongst staff.

The report notes that work is ongoing to ensure that all of Cherwell District Council premises including housing stock are compliant with regard to Fire, Asbestos, Legionella, Gas and Electrical safety going forward.

The report also mentions Martyn's Law, now the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The law aims to protect members of the public at events where large numbers of people are in one area or building. An initial meeting was held with key colleagues from Property, Health and Safety, Wellbeing and Finance to ensure the impact of the law is considered in all of the council's settings.

Monitoring Officer's Annual Report

The committee will be asked to note the Monitoring Officers Annual Report 2024-25, which provides an overview of the standards and conduct of members within the Cherwell District at District and Parish level, complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman¹ and other matters for the municipal year of 2024/2025.

The report notes that standards of ethical conduct across the district remain good, but there needs to be periodic reminders to both officers and members on declaring gifts and hospitality.

The report also includes the Annual Review Report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). For the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, seven complaints and enquires against Cherwell District Council were submitted to the LGSCO. The Appendix 1 - LGSCO annual letter 2024-25-lap07085 details the complaints that were considered by the Ombudsman up to 31 March 2025.

Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations

The committee will be asked to note the Enviromental Social and Governance Considerations 2025 26 report, which updates the committee on the council's position on Environmental, Social and Governance considerations in line with CIPFA² recommendations.

The report notes that ESG are widely accepted measures of sustainability that organisations can use to map out their journey to becoming more sustainable and understand how the transition to a more sustainable economy will impact them.

The report also notes that the council is supportive of the Principles for Responsible Investment and will seek to bring ESG factors into the decision-making process for investments.

Support to Subsidiaries

The committee will be asked to note the Support to Subsidiaries Report, which informs the Committee of the overall level of support provided to the council's subsidiaries and how this is considered as part of the external audit.

The report notes that the council has several subsidiaries which are consolidated into its Group Accounts. Each of these subsidiary companies are required to be audited externally and each audit requires a Letter of Support from the council as Parent.

An exempt appendix to the report contains information that is not available to the public.

Work Programme

The committee will be asked to consider and review the Work Programme 2025-26. The work programme includes items such as risk monitoring reports, counter fraud updates, internal audit progress updates, health and safety reports, and treasury management updates.