The Audit and Governance Committee of Waltham Forest Council convened to discuss treasury management, anti-fraud measures, internal audit progress, an honorary alderperson protocol, and updates to the council's constitution. The meeting was scheduled to take place on 9 October 2025, at Waltham Forest Town Hall.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were listed for discussion:

Constitution Updates

The committee was scheduled to consider proposed amendments to the council's constitution, specifically the Council Procedure Rules and the Councillors' Code of Conduct, as detailed in the Constitution Updates report.

The proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules, outlined in Appendix 1 - Amended Council Procedure Rules - Tracked Changes, included:

• Increasing the time allotted to public statements to 20 minutes.
• Granting the Mayor discretion to vary the time allowed to each speaker.
• Amending the deadline for requests to make a statement to two working days before the meeting.
• Requiring a clear summary of the statement as notice and allowing the Mayor to request the full statement in advance.
• Formalising the Mayor's precedent for prioritising statements.
• Amending the deadline for questions to the executive to five clear working days before the meeting.

A minor update to the Councillor Code of Conduct, detailed in Appendix 2 - Amended Councillors Code of Conduct - Tracked Changes, was also up for consideration. This update aimed to address circumstances where councillors act as advocates for their constituents, adding a paragraph (6A) with the title 'Use of Position – Advocacy'. The proposed wording stated:

Your role as an advocate is likely to generate a conflict between your duties to:

i. The Council and its officers, ii. The service user for whom you are an advocate, and iii. Other ward constituents

In some cases, this may also create an impression of undue influence due to your position within the council. In exceptional circumstances, such as where you may wish to act as an advocate for a family member or if you are a professional advocate, this should be explained and agreed in advance with the Monitoring Officer.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review

The committee was scheduled to discuss the 2025-26 Treasury Management Mid-Year Review. The review, detailed in Appendix 1 - 2025-26 Treasury Managment Mid- Year Review Report, included:

• An economic update for the first six months of the financial year.
• A review of the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy.
• The authority's capital expenditure.
• A review of the council's investments portfolio as at 30 September 2025.
• A review of the council's borrowing strategy for 2025/26.
• A review of any debt rescheduling undertaken during 2025/26.
• A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2025/26.

The report noted that the council maintained an average investments balance of £49.9 million, with an average interest earned of 4.24%. All treasury management activities were said to be in accordance with approved limits and prudential indicators. As of 30 September 2025, the council held £33.4 million of investments with an average interest rate of 4.05%, and debts of £489.7 million with an average interest payable of 3.92%. The report recommended that the Audit and Governance Committee recommend to the Full Council to approve the treasury management activities from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025.

Corporate Anti-Fraud Team Progress Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 August 2025. According to the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team Progress Update Report 2025-26, highlights from this period, also detailed in Appendix A - Corporate Anti-Fraud Team Progress Update Report 2025-26, included:

• Two written warnings issued to council employees following investigations.
• One 'Formal Caution' issued for polygamous working, with the officer resigning.
• Recovery of 26 properties.
• Prevention of two fraudulent Right-To-Buy applications.
• Seizure or cancellation of 136 Blue Badges¹, with 18 successful prosecutions.
• Issuance of 54 civil financial penalty notices to private landlords for failing to meet minimum property standards.
• Identification of total cashable savings of £49,580.

Progress Update on Delivering the Internal Audit Plan

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the 2025-26 Internal Audit Plan. The Internal Audit Progress Update report noted that the Internal Audit service is co-sourced between an in-house team and external frameworks. As of 4 September 2025, 12% of the audit plan was at the draft report stage or had been finalised, 21% was in fieldwork/review stage, 30% was in scoping/booked stage, and 37% was planned for later in the year. One per cent of the plan had been cancelled and 1% deferred.

Appendix A - Status of Audit Activity on the 2025-26 Internal Audit Plan provided the status of each individual audit in the plan, while Appendix B - Limited and No Assurance Opinion Reports provided executive summaries of limited assurance reports issued in the 2025-26 financial year.

Honorary Alderperson Protocol

The committee was scheduled to discuss and consider recommending the adoption of a protocol for awarding the titles of Honorary Alderman, Honorary Alderwoman, and Honorary Alderperson. The Honorary Alderperson Protocol - AG Report suggested that the council amend its constitution to reserve decisions on such awards to the Full Council.

The proposed protocol, detailed in Appendix 1 - Honorary Alderperson Protocol, stated that the titles can only be conferred to an ex-member of the authority deemed to have provided eminent, exceptional, and distinguished services to the council, above the expectations of councillors. Honorary Aldermen, Alderwomen, or Alderpersons must have served 12 years in total on the council (not necessarily consecutive), though the title may be conferred on former councillors who fall outside of this criteria on a case-by-case basis where exceptional circumstances apply. Nominations are to be made by the Mayor, Leader, or 5 Councillors, with a resolution passed by two-thirds of those present at a specially convened Council Meeting.