The Audit Committee of Derbyshire County Council was scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at County Hall, Matlock. The meeting's agenda included a training session, progress reports from internal and external auditors, and discussions on risk management within Corporate Services and Transformation.

Arlingclose Training Session

The committee was scheduled to receive a training session from Arlingclose, an investment advisory firm that works with public sector organisations.

Corporate Services & Transformation Risk Management

A report was scheduled to be presented providing an overview of risk management within the Corporate Services and Transformation departments. This would have offered insight into how these areas of the council identify, assess, and manage potential risks.

Internal Audit Progress Report

The committee was set to review the Internal Audit Progress Report for January 2026. This report, compiled by Mark Lunn, Assistant Director of Finance (Audit), details the progress made against the approved Internal Audit Plan for 2025-26. It outlines the work undertaken, performance indicators, and any significant issues impacting the Chief Internal Auditor's annual opinion. The report also includes updates on counter-fraud and investigations, continuous audit activities, and a summary of audit reports issued since the previous meeting. The progress of the audit plan has been affected by resource constraints, with a possibility of some audits being deferred to the next financial year.

External Audit Progress Report

A report detailing the progress of the external audit for Derbyshire County Council was scheduled for discussion. This report, prepared by Forvis Mazars, would have covered the financial statements audit for the year ending 31 March 2025. It was anticipated that the report would address the challenges encountered with property valuations and the resulting disclaimer of opinion on the previous year's financial statements. The external auditors were working with the council to schedule further audit work to rebuild assurance. The report also includes commentary on the council's value for money arrangements and wider reporting responsibilities.

Exclusion of the Public

The agenda indicated that the committee would consider moving to exclude the public from the meeting for a specific item of business. This is a procedural step taken under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, typically when exempt information, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Act, is to be disclosed. The report pack notes that this exclusion would be considered for the discussion of Digital Services Risk Management.