The Governance & Assurance Committee of Redbridge Council was scheduled to review updates on internal audit and counter fraud activities, examine the council's strategic risk register, and consider the proposed internal audit plan for the upcoming year. The committee was also set to review the council's internal audit charter, mandate, and strategy.

Update on Red Rated Actions Over 12 Months Past Their Original Target Date

The committee was scheduled to receive updates on red rated actions that are over 12 months past their original agreed target date. These actions stem from Internal Audit reviews and are intended to enhance the council's internal control environment. The report pack indicated that two specific actions were to be discussed: Ensuring there is sufficient first aider and fire warden coverage in Council buildings and Ensuring corporate Health and Safety management information reports give clear positions on the 'full compliance' position for key areas of statutory safety activity. The owners of these actions were expected to provide briefings on their progress, reasons for delays, and steps being taken to complete them.

Internal Audit and Counter Fraud 2025/26 Q4 Update

This report was scheduled to provide an update on Internal Audit and Counter Fraud activities for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. It was intended to detail the outcomes of completed Internal Audit work, highlighting areas where limited or no assurance was provided over governance, risk management, or control arrangements. The report was also to outline management's progress in implementing red and critical risk recommendations aimed at addressing significant governance, risk management, or internal control issues. The update included a summary of counter fraud activity, detailing cases opened and closed, and financial and non-financial outcomes. It also covered the progress of financial investigator cases and training and awareness-raising initiatives.

Internal Audit Charter, Mandate, Strategy, and Proposed Plan for 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to review and approve the proposed Internal Audit Plan for 2026/27, along with updated versions of the Internal Audit service's key supporting documents. These documents, including the Internal Audit Charter, Mandate, and Strategy, outline the service's working methods, roles, responsibilities, and objectives in line with the Global Internal Audit Standards. The proposed plan was designed to provide assurance over the council's governance, risk management, and internal control arrangements, with a forward look to indicative work for 2027/28. The report detailed how the plan addresses corporate plan objectives, strategic risks, and the CIPFA/SOLACE Good Governance Framework.

2025/26 Strategic Risk Register Quarter 4

This report was scheduled to present details of the risks within the Strategic Risk Register for the fourth quarter of 2025/26. It was intended to outline changes in controls and risk scoring, with risks categorised by RAG (Red, Amber, Green) status. The report highlighted that several strategic risks, including those related to financial resilience, housing provision, adult social care demand, cyber-attacks, business disruption, and the transformation programme, remained red rated or had seen changes in their scoring. The report also noted the addition of a new risk concerning the transformation programme's ability to deliver target savings.

Draft Minutes of Previous Meetings

The committee was scheduled to approve the draft minutes of previous meetings held on 28 January 2026 and 23 February 2026. These minutes would have provided a record of discussions and decisions from those earlier sessions.