The General Purposes and Audit Committee of Bexley Council met on Wednesday 29 July 2026 to discuss a range of financial and operational matters. Key topics included the annual reports on redundancy, severance, and pension benefits, treasury management outturn, and internal audit findings. The committee also reviewed progress on the LGA Finance Peer Challenge and considered the establishment of a new Safety and Resilience Sub-Committee.

Annual Report on Redundancy, Severance and Early Release of Pension Benefits 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to receive an annual report detailing the arrangements for the early release of pension benefits under the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for the 2025/26 financial year. The report indicated that one employee left the Council due to redundancy with entitlement to LGPS benefits. Additionally, two employees retired due to ill health, and 14 individuals requested flexible retirement, leading to the early release of their pension benefits. The report also commented on the effectiveness of the Council's existing early retirement policies.

Stopping Up of Highway Land - Powerscroft Road, Sidcup

A report was scheduled for discussion regarding the proposed stopping up of highway rights over the turning head at the eastern end of Powerscroft Road, Sidcup. This action is required to facilitate the implementation of planning permission 24/02748/FUL, which was approved for the redevelopment of an existing traveller site. The proposed stopping up would allow for an additional plot within the site. The report concluded that the proposed action would not adversely impact public movement. The committee was asked to authorise the Deputy Director of Legal and Democratic Services to prepare and advertise a draft Order, and subsequently to make the Order if no material objections were received.

Safety and Resilience Sub-Committee

The committee was asked to approve the establishment of a new Safety and Resilience Sub-Committee. The proposed Sub-Committee's remit would be to provide assurance to the General Purposes and Audit Committee on the effectiveness of the Council's arrangements for health and safety management, emergency planning, and business continuity. The report also sought agreement on the Sub-Committee's Terms of Reference and its membership, which was proposed to comprise six members with a 4:1:1 split across the Conservative, Labour, and Reform UK groups.

Annual Treasury Management Outturn Report 2025/26

This report provided a summary of the Council's treasury management activities for the financial year 2025/26, in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Treasury Management Code. It detailed the treasury position as at 31 March 2026, the outcome of the borrowing and investment strategies, and confirmed compliance with treasury limits and Prudential Indicators. The report noted that investment returns were comparatively higher at the start of the financial year, decreasing as the Bank Rate was cut. The Council's long-term borrowing stood at £224.6 million, with short-term borrowing at £25 million used for liquidity management. The report also detailed the maturity profile of the loan portfolio and confirmed that the Council operated within its approved treasury limits.

LGA Finance Peer Challenge - Progress Review Update

A progress review update on the LGA Finance Peer Challenge, undertaken in January 2025, was scheduled for discussion. The review assessed the progress made against the recommendations from the original challenge and the Council's subsequent action plan. The Progress Review found evidence of positive progress across key themes including financial leadership, governance, organisational culture, financial planning, and transformation delivery. The Peer Team recognised a notable cultural shift and concluded that the Council was better positioned to address its financial challenges through strengthened governance and strategic planning. The report provided a summary of the findings and the progress evidenced to the LGA.

Annual Head of Internal Audit Report 2025/26

The committee was presented with the Head of Internal Audit's annual opinion for 2025/26. The report indicated that 26 general assurance reviews, 5 advisory reviews, and 7 school audits were completed during the year. The overall opinion awarded was reasonable assurance regarding the Council's risk management, control, and governance arrangements, though it was noted as being borderline with a limited opinion. The report detailed the breakdown of audit opinions and the priority levels of recommendations made. Key themes identified from the audit work included a lack of up-to-date policies and procedures, staff capacity challenges, and system limitations.

Internal Audit & Counter Fraud Progress Reports Q1 2026/27

This report provided an update on internal audit activity for the period 17 March to 19 June 2026, covering the completion of the 2025/26 internal audit plan and the commencement of the 2026/27 plan. It also detailed counter fraud activity for the period 18 March to 6 July 2026. Nine internal audit reports were issued in final, with assurance ratings ranging from reasonable to limited . Several reports were noted as being in draft. The counter fraud section detailed the logging of two new cases, comprising potential Blue Badge frauds, and the closure of 19 cases, including fraud proven Blue Badges. The report also outlined proposed changes to the internal audit plan and provided an update on the follow-up of management actions from previous internal audit reports. An external quality assessment of the internal audit function was noted as being underway.