Ayesha Azad

the Audit and Governance Committee of Surrey Council

The Committee concluded the action plan created in response to the 2022 Centre for Governance and Scrutiny's review of Council Governance, subject to an external review to take place after the May 2025 election. The Committee also received the six month complaints update report for 2024-25 and, following a lengthy discussion, asked the Chairman to write to the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) to express its concern about the lack of progress in reducing complaints and particularly communication complaints. It also asked him to invite a member of the CLT to a future meeting to discuss what they were doing to improve complaints handling. During its consideration of the Annual Governance Statement half year update the Committee asked for a more detailed update report on the progress being made by the MySurrey Stabilisation Board to be provided in January. During its consideration of the Internal Audit Progress Report, the Committee asked for a report on the actions taken in response to the follow up audits on Tree Management and Social Value In Procurement.

Informal Meeting, Surrey Police and Crime Panel - Thursday, 24 October 2024 10.30 am

Council - Tuesday, 8 October 2024 10.00 am

The meeting started with a statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, and a statement from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Paul Follows. The Council then approved the appointment of Andy Brown as the Section 151 Officer, the absence of Councillor David Lewis from Council meetings, amendments to the constitution, and noted the annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee. A debate was held on an original motion to tackle the increasing problem of motorcycles parking on pavements, which was passed. Another original motion proposed making Surrey County Council an “End Poverty” Council was passed after the rejection of an amendment to commit the Council to not reducing funding for charities that tackle poverty. Finally the Council noted the recommendations of the Communities, Environment and Highways select committee on the referral of a motion on plant based meals.

Surrey Police and Crime Panel - Thursday, 26 September 2024 10.30 am

The Surrey Police and Crime Panel noted all the reports that were presented to it. The Panel will write to the Home Secretary to express their concerns about the Police Funding Formula, which they believe will leave Surrey Police underfunded if the government follows through on its manifesto pledge to create 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers. Councillor Richard Wilson was appointed to the Complaints Sub-Committee of the Police and Crime Panel.

Audit and Governance Committee - Wednesday, 11 September 2024 10.00 am

At this meeting the committee approved the council's Risk Management Strategy and noted a report on the council's performance on risk management. They also noted a report on Internal Audit’s work in the first quarter of the year and a report on the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's annual review letter. The committee commended their own annual report to the October meeting of the full council and agreed an amended process for dealing with allegations of breaches of the member code of conduct. The committee also agreed the process for the recruitment of new independent persons.