The Governance Standards and Audit Committee of Merton Council was scheduled to discuss a range of important governance and financial matters. Key topics included a review of polling places, progress reports on external and internal audits, an update on fraud investigations, and a review of the council's key strategic risks. The committee was also set to consider plans for member induction and the appointment of an independent person.

Review of Polling Places

The committee was scheduled to consider proposals for designating new polling places. In Hillside ward, the designation of Hillside Church was proposed as a replacement for Drake House, which will be unavailable due to building works. In Wandle ward, the Cherry Red Records Stadium was proposed as a polling place for a new polling district, following a volunteer offer from AFC Wimbledon. The report outlined the benefits and risks associated with these changes, including potential elector confusion and financial implications.

External Audit Progress Report

A report from Ernst & Young LLP was scheduled to provide an update on the progress of the external audit for the year ended 31 March 2025. The report detailed the context for the audit, including measures to address local audit delays and the phased approach to clearing the backlog of audited financial statements. It outlined the scope of the audit, changes in materiality, and the status of outstanding audit procedures. The report also addressed value for money arrangements, audit differences, and other reporting issues, including the consistency of information published with the financial statements and the Whole of Government Accounts submission. The auditors confirmed that, as of the report date, no significant deficiencies in internal control had been identified.

Internal Audit Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the internal audit plan for 2025/26. The report detailed the number of audits planned and completed, the assurance levels provided for completed audits, and the priority of recommendations issued. It highlighted that 25 audit assurance reviews had been undertaken, with 16 resulting in Reasonable Assurance opinions and 9 in Limited Assurance opinions. The report also detailed outstanding Priority 1 audit actions from previous years and new limited assurance reviews. The committee was asked to note the progress of the internal audit function and its role in evaluating the effectiveness of the council's risk management, control, and governance processes.

Fraud Update

A report was scheduled to provide an update on fraud investigations and performance results for the period up to 26 September 2025. The report highlighted the ongoing threat of fraud, with a particular focus on rising insider fraud, identity fraud, and fraud related to temporary accommodation. It detailed the work of the South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP), which provides a shared fraud investigation service. The report included tables summarising fraud referrals, data cleansing matches, and the value of overpayments and notional savings identified. It also provided an update on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and compliance with the Local Government Transparency Code.

Key Strategic Risks Register

The committee was scheduled to review the council's Key Strategic Risks Register (KSRR) as of Q1 2025-26. The report detailed the council's risk management strategy and framework, outlining the process for identifying, assessing, and managing risks. It highlighted that there were 12 entries on the KSRR, comprising 9 Key Strategic Risks and 3 Key Strategic Issues. The report identified 7 red risks and issues, including those related to housing supply, the annual savings programme, the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, the DSG Safety Valve, cyber security, the corporate business plan and balanced budget, and school budget deficits. The report also noted an increase in the risk score for cyber attacks and the proposed removal of a risk related to waste services.

Member Induction Plan 2026

The committee was scheduled to discuss proposals for the member induction programme for elected councillors following the May 2026 elections. The report outlined the proposed arrangements for statutory and non-statutory training, including an induction evening on 11 May 2026, followed by a series of mandatory sessions on topics such as the role of a councillor, code of conduct, information governance, safeguarding, finance, and planning. The report also detailed proposed ongoing training for 2026-2030 and IT provision for councillors. Feedback from a previous survey on councillor training was also to be discussed, with a view to encouraging increased attendance at development activities.

Appointment of an Independent Person

The committee was asked to recommend to the Full Council the appointment of Faye McGillian as an Independent Person for a three-year period, commencing 20 November 2025. This appointment is a requirement under Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011, which mandates the appointment of an Independent Person to advise on standards of conduct. The report outlined the functions of the Independent Person and noted that Faye McGillian was the recommended candidate following a recruitment process. The committee was informed that the final decision would be made by Full Council on 19 November 2025.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its forward work programme, with a list of topics planned for discussion in February, July, September, and November. Additional items that could be added to the work programme were also noted, including discussions on polling places, constitutional amendments, member development, and reports on dispensations issued by the Monitoring Officer.