The Audit & Governance Committee of Boston Council was scheduled to convene on Monday 19 January 2026 to review a range of financial, governance, and audit-related matters. Key discussions were expected to include the committee's personal skills audit, progress on internal audits, and the proposed treasury management strategies for the upcoming financial year.

Audit & Governance Committee Personal Skills Audit

The committee was scheduled to undertake a personal skills audit, as detailed in the report by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance & Monitoring Officer. This audit, designed to assess the current skills, knowledge, and training needs of the committee members, aims to support effective audit and governance practices. The findings are intended to feed into the committee's self-assessment work and identify areas for development, aligning with the CIPFA knowledge and skills framework.

Internal Audit Progress Report

A report by Mark Harrison, Audit Manager for Lincolnshire County Council, was scheduled to provide an update on internal audit activity. This report was expected to summarise the status of live internal audit reviews, progress against the internal audit plan, and any planning or resourcing issues. The purpose of this report is to inform senior management and the committee about the effectiveness of the council's risk management, control, and governance processes.

Draft Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Statements

Russell Stone, Director of Finance (S151 Officer), was scheduled to present draft documents concerning the council's treasury management for the 2026/27 financial year. These included the Draft Treasury Management Policy Statement, Draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, and Annual Investment Strategy. The committee was asked to scrutinise these documents, which outline the council's strategy for borrowing and managing investments, with a focus on security and liquidity, before they are submitted to Cabinet and Council. The report also detailed proposed increases to the operational and authorised borrowing limits and adjustments to investment criteria.

Audit of Building Control Service by the Building Safety Regulator

Christian Allen, Assistant Director – Regulatory, was scheduled to provide an update on the audit of the Building Control Service conducted by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The report, authored by Pauline Lyon, Group Manager – Building Control, was intended to inform members about the outcome of the inspection and the work being undertaken to ensure the service meets the BSR's Operational Standards Rules. The BSR conducts inspections to verify compliance with the Building Act 1984 and associated legislation, with escalating sanctions available for non-compliance.

Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2024/2025

Amanda Dickinson, Democratic Services Team Leader, was scheduled to present the Audit and Governance Committee's Annual Report for 2024/2025. This report, prepared in accordance with the committee's Terms of Reference, provides an overview of the work undertaken during the previous municipal year. It was intended to cover the committee's purpose, membership, meetings, and summaries of work related to internal audit, external audit, governance, risk management, treasury, accounts, and training and development. The report was to be presented for approval before being submitted to the Full Council.

Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to consider its Work Programme for the upcoming year. This document outlines the planned agenda items for future meetings, ensuring the committee can fulfil its responsibilities for financial oversight, governance, and risk management. Members would have the opportunity to suggest additional topics for inclusion.