Agenda item

Consideration was given to the Regulatory and Inspectorate Reports and Council Responses. 

Jason Blewitt from Audit Wales noted that Audit of the Council’s 2022-23 Statement of Accounts were now complete and due to be reported to the Governance and Audit Committee and to Council on 6 February 2024, and signed-off by the Auditor General on the 7^th February 2024.  The Annual Returns for the Ceredigion Harbour reports, Growing Mid Wales and Corporate Joint Committee are now also complete, and will be reported to various committees and signed off by the Auditor General on 7^th February 2024.  The Audit of the Council’s 2022-23 Grants and Returns are ongoing and they hope to complete this work by the end of February 2024.

The Chair asked whether Audit Wales resources issues have now been resolved, and Mr Jason Blewitt confirmed that they have now caught up with the work and that in accordance with the 3 year plan to 2024-25. Audit Wales aims to sign off the next Statement of Accounts by 30 November 2024, and by 30 September of the following year, reliant on the Council’s timetable.

Non Jenkins from Audit Wales noted that they would be providing an update soon upon the Performance Audit work, confirming that they have now finalised the Assurance and Risk Assessment work for 2022-23 and that they are working on 2023-24.  The final report will be presented at the next meeting.  In terms of the thematic review of Unscheduled Care, she noted that this is a major piece of work which is now nearing completion and apologised for the delay in delivering this work.  She noted that the reports relating to the thematic review of Digital and the Planning review follow up are included on today’s agenda, and that the Assurance and Risk Assessment, the Financial Sustainability and the Commissioning and Contract Management are in progress.

The Chair asked whether the recommendation from the review of the digital assurance would apply to all Councils.  It was confirmed that the audit is moderated across all 22 authorities, however the key findings will be published in a summary which will bring together the key findings, recommendations and bet practice.  Non Jenkins also noted that Audit Wales were pleased that the council’s responses to their comments are published together with the recommendations.

Elin Prysor provided an update on local risk work issued/published since the last Governance and Audit Committee meeting noting the following:

·       The cracks in Foundations report largely does not apply to Ceredigion;

·       The completion date for the Equality Impact Assessment is March 2024;

·       The completion date for Springing Forward was 6 December 2023 therefore the report will be presented to a future meeting;

·       That work is in progress in relation to the Setting of Wellbeing Objectives and Poverty in Wales and that it is aimed to bring these reports to Committee in September.

Mr Andrew Blackmore asked why target dates weren’t met.  Elin Prysor confirmed that this does not reflect the progress made by the Service, however it is sometimes necessary to clarify responses, and there wasn’t sufficient time to bring a report which has a deadline date in December to the January meeting due to the deadline for presenting reports to the Committee.  Mr Andrew Blackmore noted that a verbal update may be useful in such circumstances. 

Elin Prysor noted that many of the actions from the Equality Impact Assessment were not applicable, and that this report is almost complete.  The Chair confirmed that he was happy to close this item as actions are complete.  Elin Prysor noted that the Springing Forward report is showing as mostly complete, with the exception of a revised date for reviewing hybrid working, and that the Setting of Wellbeing Objectives is also close to complete with a recommendation relating to ongoing targeted work.  Mr Alan Davies noted that these together with the Digital review would need to be closed properly in March.

Elin Prysor noted that the Poverty in Wales and Social Enterprise reports would require considerable work and may take longer than the initial target date of March 2024, and may be presented to the May or June meeting.

Mr Alan Davies asked why there was no Management Response form for the Corporate Joint Committee. It was confirmed that the Corporate Joint Committee is a separate entity.  Mr Alan Davies noted that Members of the Governance and Audit Committee needs to be more vociferous in expressing their dissatisfaction that the Corporate Joint Committee, Governance and Audit sub-committee has not met, with several meetings cancelled due to various reasons.  Elin Prysor noted that comments made by the Chair at briefing sessions have been passed on.

It was AGREED to

1)    Note the Regulator and Inspectorate reports and Updates

2)    Note the Council’s response (Management/Organisational Response Forms)