The Audit and Governance Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss risk management, treasury management, audit performance, and other governance issues. The committee was also scheduled to review the council's whistleblowing policy and receive an update on housing repairs.

Assurance Report on Repairs

The Audit and Governance Committee were scheduled to note the content of the assurance report on repairs. The report included a synopsis and background on the repairs service and performance, the current position, as well as future targets and provision. This included preparations for the enactment of Awaab's Law on 27 October 2025, when responding to reports of damp and mould.

The report also provided a summary of the council's performance in 2023-24 and 2024-25 within the key areas of the repairs service, incorporating a comparison with other London boroughs and Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs).

According to the report, repairs to council-owned housing properties are undertaken by Coalo, a subsidiary of Lampton 360 Limited, which is part of the Lampton Group of companies wholly owned by the London Borough of Hounslow.

The report stated that there had been an end-to-end review of the repairs process to improve the service for residents and make it more efficient. The reviewed process has now been implemented and cascaded to relevant staff, as well as being aligned to both the council and Coalo's ICT systems.

The report stated that resident satisfaction with repairs has consistently exceeded the target of 85%.

The report stated that the council is preparing for the enactment of Awaab's Law on 27 October 2025, and that an implementation plan is in place.

Quarterly Monitoring of Corporate Risk Register

The Audit and Governance Committee was scheduled to note the amended Corporate Risk Register (CRR). The CRR contains corporate risks, which are those that cut across the delivery of all services, key programmes and projects and those that will affect the delivery of the council's objectives.

According to the report, one new corporate risk has been identified since the committee last considered the CRR:

Pandemic Influenza impacting population health, council services and partners, and workforce capacity (PH0001)

The report also stated that two risk scores are provisional: Weakening of the Council's financial resilience (FR0001) and Material in-year budget deficit and resulting adverse impact on the One Hounslow Financial Strategy (FR0003).

The report stated that the council seeks to mitigate risks, treating them until the risk becomes something that is managed as part of the relevant team's business as usual activity. One risk has been removed from the CRR - Failure to respond to the recruitment and retention issues in Children and Adult Social Care (CAS0006) as activities to stabilise the workforce has had a positive effect and the risk is now being managed at directorate level.

Whistleblowing Report

The Audit and Governance Committee was scheduled to note the contents of the Whistleblowing Report 2025. The report provided a summary of the whistleblowing concerns made during the period 1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025.

The council's Whistleblowing Policy incorporates the provisions in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and the Employment Rights Act 1996. It provides a process for employees to report potential wrongdoing and for these disclosures to be investigated.

The council has an external reporting service, provided by Safecall, which enables staff to raise a whistleblowing concern in an independent and secure way.

The table below summarises the reports that have been made by employees through Safecall:

The report stated that the council has received only one whistleblowing case this year, which is unusual. The report suggests that the introduction of the council's Resolution Framework, which encourages colleagues to raise issues or concerns through an internal process, may have redirected some cases.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Report

The Audit and Governance Committee was scheduled to note the contents of the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025-26 and provide scrutiny on the council's treasury management activity for the period 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025.

According to the report, all activity is in line with the Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) approved by Borough Council on 25 February 2025.

The report stated that total borrowing reduced from £608.1m to £594.8m, a net decrease of £13.3m. Treasury investments decreased from £66.2m to £49.6m, a net decrease of £16.6m. Non-treasury investments increased slightly from £231.2m to £231.3m, a net increase of £0.1m.

The report also noted that the first Community Municipal Investment (CMI) tranche successfully raised £1m between June and September 2025.

The report included an update on the Lampton Group (Appendix 1) and an economic update for the half of 2025/26 (Appendix 2).

The report stated that the council launched its first Community Municipal Investment (CMI), enabling residents to invest directly in green projects such as renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes.

The report stated that the council holds £34.5m in Lender Option, Borrower Option (LOBO) loans, which include embedded options for the lender to propose changes to the loan terms at specified intervals. If a lender exercises this option, the council has the right to repay the loan without penalty. The next LOBO option period is scheduled for February 2026, involving a £10m tranche.

Audit and Investigation Performance Report

The Audit and Governance Committee was scheduled to note the performance of the Internal Audit and Investigation team and key issues arising during quarter 1.

Internal Audit and Investigations activity within the council is delivered under a shared service arrangement with the London Borough of Ealing.

The report stated that the 2025/26 plan was approved by the Audit & Governance Committee in July 2025.

The report provided a guide to how the assurance levels are defined:

During the period two reports were finalised. Domestic Abuse Team, received substantial assurance. Procurement Cards received a limited assurance opinion.

The report stated that the number of referrals received through Hounslow's website, fraud email, fraud hotline and by letter for the fraud team has been 119 for the year to date.

The report stated that using powers available under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 a Confiscation Order for £35,000 has been obtained in relation to a breach of a Planning Enforcement Order.

The report stated that the team have been reviewing the outcomes of the 2024/25 data match from the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).

Draft Indicative Workplan

The Audit and Governance Committee was scheduled to agree the draft indicative work plan for 2025/26.

The plan is indicative and may be subject to change. There are a number of reports flagged as 'may be received', this reflects for example a change in circumstances which needs to be reported during that period.

The workplan included items such as the annual work programme, review of the Audit and Governance Committee terms of reference, annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee, internal audit charter, internal audit plan and strategy, annual report and opinion on internal audit and fraud, progress report on the work of internal audit and anti-fraud, audit plan, annual audit closing report, statement of accounts, accounting policies, review of the policy and strategy, audit update report, annual governance statement, annual review of the risk strategy, risk management, annual update on whistleblowing reports, use of regulation of investigation powers (RIPA) surveillance, Local Government Ombudsman Complaints, review of complaints made under the Code of Conduct, member complaints, the member's code of conduct and council's ethical framework, updates to the Constitution, review of the treasury management strategy and polling district review.

Other Matters

Councillor Unsa Chaudri, Chair, Councillors Farah Kamran, Max Mosley, John Todd and Emma Yates, Ilva Foteina and John Turnbull were scheduled to attend the meeting.

The committee was also scheduled to consider apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and any other communication from members.