The Audit & Governance Committee of Oxfordshire County Council was scheduled to meet on 16 July 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including local government reorganisation, treasury management, appointments to outside bodies, and the counter fraud plan. The committee was also expected to review the ombudsman annual report and the health and safety annual report.

Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

The committee was scheduled to note a report regarding the significant changes facing Oxfordshire County Council due to local government reorganisation and devolution. The report outlined the need for increased organisational capacity and capability to meet these challenges through the creation of fixed-term programme director posts. The committee was asked to note the establishment of temporary roles of 'Programme Director – Local Government Reorganisation' and 'Programme Director – Devolution' and note the remits of the job descriptions enclosed at Annexes 1 and 2.

Treasury Management Annual Performance

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Treasury Management Annual Performance Report 2024-25, which provides an overview of the council's borrowing, investments, and cash flows. The report noted that the council's outstanding debt totalled £272m as of 31 March 2025, with an average interest rate of 4.41%. The council launched its green bond in December 2024 with an aim to raise an initial £0.5m. The report also highlighted that the council achieved an average in-house return of 4.86% on average cash balances of £460.916m, resulting in gross interest receivable of £22.398m. The committee was recommended to note the report and recommend that the council note the council's treasury management activity and outcomes in 2024/25. Treasury management is defined as:

The management of the organisation's borrowing, investments and cash flows, including its banking, money market and capital market transactions, the effective control of the risks associated with those activities, and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with those risks.

Treasury Management Annual Performance Report 2024-25

Review of Appointments to Outside Bodies

The committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding the procedures and guidance around council appointments to outside bodies. The report proposed changes to the appointment process for Category B (Non-strategic) and Category C (Local) Outside Bodies. The committee was asked to agree to the amended method of appointment to Category B and C Outside Bodies, agree that Category B appointments be made by the Audit and Governance Committee, agree that Category C appointments be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, recommend to Council to approve the Constitutional Amendments in Annex 1 Constitutional Amendments to reflect these changes, adopt the Guidance for Members who are appointed to Outside Bodies, and approve a list of appointments to Category B Outside Bodies for this Council subject to Council approving the Constitutional Amendments.

Counter Fraud Plan and Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of activity against the Counter Fraud Plan for 2024/25 and the Counter Fraud Plan for the coming year 2025/26. The Counter Fraud plan supports the Council's Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy by ensuring that the Council has proportionate and effective resources and controls in place to prevent and detect fraud as well as investigate those matters that do arise. The committee was asked to note the summary of activity against the Counter Fraud Plan for 2024/25 and approve the Counter Fraud Plan for 2025/26. The Local Government Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally was launched in 2020. The Council's counter fraud arrangements are focussed on their recommended five pillars of activity:

• Govern
• Acknowledge
• Prevent
• Pursue
• Protect

Ombudsman Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to receive and comment on the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) Annual Review of Oxfordshire County Council for 2024/25, and the work undertaken by the council regarding its handling of complaints. Each year, the LGSCO issues an Annual Review Report about each council, relating to complaints made to the LGSCO about the council in the previous financial year.

Health and Safety Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to note and accept the contents of the Health and Safety (H&S) Annual Report and the work of the H&S Team to support services and improve performance keeping employees and customers safe. The annual report contains information about the work of the Health and Safety (H&S) functions, the council's health and safety performance over the year and its plans for the coming year.

2024-25 Statement of Accounts

The committee was scheduled to consider and approve the draft Statement of Accounts for 2024-25. Oxfordshire County Council published its draft Statement of Accounts 2024/25 by 30 June 2025, in line with the revised statutory deadline set by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The public inspection period runs from 1 July to 12 August 2025, allowing residents to review the accounts and exercise their rights under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014¹.

Audit and Governance Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review the Committee's Work Programme for 2025-26.