The Audit Committee of Hillingdon Council met on 18 November 2025 to discuss a range of topics including governance, risk management, audit reports, and counter fraud activity. The committee was also scheduled to review the results of a recent staff survey and consider the council's work programme.

Governance Review and Improvement Plan

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Governance Review Improvement Plan (GRIP). The GRIP is a programme launched in March 2025 to address governance weaknesses identified in reviews such as the CIPFA review, Directorate Governance Internal Audit, and the Provisional Audit Results Report. The GRIP is structured around three workstreams: financial governance, directorate governance, and constitutional/democratic governance. The committee was expected to note the update, seek clarifications and assurances, and provide comments to officers.

The report pack included a table that summarised the progress that had been made on the Finance Governance Recommendations and Actions. For example, with respect to the recommendation that the council should:

The Council to build upon the steps already taken to control its expenditure to identify specific deliverable savings over the short term and medium term (next 12-24 months) to protect its limited remaining reserves in the context of the forecast levels of funding.

The detailed delivery actions listed in the report pack included:

Additional spend control measures are being introduced to ensure that all new spend through PO's/invoices undergoes a review and sign off process that the spend is essential.

Finance Modernisation Programme

The Audit Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Finance Modernisation Programme (FMP). The FMP is a transformation initiative designed to review and strengthen the council's financial systems, processes and structures. The update included progress on accounting and Oracle systems, the impact on stakeholders, and priority actions related to accounting and control, budget monitoring and finance systems.

Staff Survey

The committee was scheduled to review the results of a recent staff survey. The survey was designed to measure staff engagement and explore how enabled, safe, supported, and connected colleagues feel. The survey was open to all staff, excluding schools, between 2 June and 25 June 2025.

External Audit Update

The Audit Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the 2024/25 audit process. The update included progress on the audit of the 2024/25 accounts and the work being undertaken to cover previous years' external audit recommendations. The committee was also scheduled to discuss measures announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to tackle the backlog of local government audits.

Audit Committee Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to approve the draft Audit Committee Annual Report for 2024/25 before it is presented to the council. The report summarises the work of the Audit Committee during 2024/25 and how it has undertaken its responsibilities for reviewing key areas such as internal audit, external audit, counter fraud, risk management, and the financial reporting process.

Risk Management

The Audit Committee was scheduled to discuss the risk management and strategic risk reports. The risk management report presents a summary of the council's risks from the Risk Management System as of 3 November 2025. The strategic risk report focuses on wider strategic risks potentially impacting the council's strategic objectives, aligning them to key performance indicators from the Performance Dashboard.

Internal Audit Progress

The Audit Committee was scheduled to receive an update on internal audit activity since the last committee meeting. The update included a summary of internal audit work completed, follow-up actions, and a forward look.

Counter Fraud Progress

The Audit Committee was scheduled to receive the Quarter 2 Counter Fraud Progress Report for 2025/26. The report provides summary information on all counter fraud work carried out during the quarter and highlights any significant issues.

Work Programme

The Audit Committee was scheduled to review planned meeting dates and the work programme and make suggestions for future agenda items, working practices and/or reviews.