The Audit and Standards Advisory Committee of Brent Council convened to discuss a range of topics, including standards of conduct, counter-fraud measures, internal and external audit reports, and treasury management strategies. The committee was also scheduled to review the council's and pension fund's statement of accounts, and to consider its forward plan and work programme.

Standards Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on gifts and hospitality registered by councillors. According to the agenda, two councillors declared receiving gifts and hospitality during the second quarter of 2025/26. Details of these declarations were listed in Appendix A - Gifts Hospitality Q2 July - Sept 2025. The report also provided an update on the government's response to the consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities. The report noted that the most significant changes appeared to be the ability to suspend councillors found to have breached the code of conduct, the withholding of allowances from councillors who commit serious breaches, and the ability to disqualify a councillor who has been suspended twice. A table summarising the government's response was attached as Appendix B - Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities consultaio.

Interim Counter Fraud Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the council's Interim Counter Fraud Report for the financial year 2025-26. The report summarised the activity of the Counter Fraud team across multiple fraud types, including internal fraud, housing tenancy fraud and external fraud. According to the report, the team had been working with Housing Services to verify all succession applications submitted to Housing Services since 1 October 2025. The report also noted that investigators had identified 70 active Freedom Passes belonging to deceased individuals, and had referred these cases to the Independent Travel Team for cancellation, resulting in a notional saving of £1,142,400. Appendix 1 - Interim Counter Fraud Report 2025-26 provided a summary of all activity performed for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025.

Internal Audit Interim Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a report outlining the work undertaken by Internal Audit in delivery of the 2025-26 Internal Audit Plan as at the end of October 2025. According to the report, the Internal Audit team had made good progress towards delivery of its plan, including completion of five core assurance reviews and four risk-focused reviews. The report noted that progress on follow-up activity was detailed in Appendix 1 - Internal Audit Interim Report 2025-26.

Treasury Management

The committee was scheduled to discuss two reports on treasury management.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025-26

The Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025-26 updated members on treasury activity for the first half of the financial year. According to the report, borrowing outstanding at 30 September 2025 was £951.2m, and cash investments were £38.6m. The report noted that the economic environment remained highly volatile, with sluggish economic growth and inflation remaining above the Bank of England's 2% target. The report included several appendices:

• Appendix 1 - Economic commentary
• Appendix 2 - Debt and Investments Portfolio
• Appendix 3 - Average Rate vs Credit Risk
• Appendix 4- Prudential Indicators 2025.26 Q2

Treasury Management Strategy Report 2026-27

The Treasury Management Strategy Report 2026-27 presented the draft Treasury Management Strategy for the following financial year. The report noted that the strategy sets out the framework for treasury management activity, including details on the borrowing strategy, investment strategy and treasury management indicators. The report included several appendices:

• Appendix 1- Treasury Management Strategy 2026-27
• Appendix 2 - Treasury Management Strategy 2026-27 Economic Commentary Interest Rate Forecast
• Appendix 3 - Treasury Management Strategy 2026-27 Average Rate Vs Credit Risk
• Appendix 4 - Treasury Management Strategy 2026-27

Statement of Accounts 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress in finalising the External Audit Findings Reports and Council's Statement of Accounts for 2024-25. The following reports were attached for consideration:

• Brent Council Audit Findings Report 2024-25
• Brent Pension Fund Audit Findings Report 2024-25 - Draft 25 November
• Statement of Accounts 24-25

The committee was also scheduled to consider draft letters of representation from the council and the pension fund:

• Appendix A - Draft LB Brent Letter of representation
• Appendix B - Draft Brent Pension Fund letter of representation

Appendix C - Brent Pension Fund Draft Audit Opinion contained the draft audit opinion for the pension fund.

Audit & Standards Advisory Committee Forward Plan & Work Programme 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to consider the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee Forward Plan & Work Programme for 2025-26.

Please note: This summary is based solely on the agenda and associated documents. It does not provide any information about what was actually discussed or decided during the meeting.