Matthew Woods

Audit and Governance Committee

the Audit and Governance Committee of Surrey Council

The Committee concluded the action plan created in response to the 2022 Centre for Governance and Scrutiny's review of Council Governance, subject to an external review to take place after the May 2025 election. The Committee also received the six month complaints update report for 2024-25 and, following a lengthy discussion, asked the Chairman to write to the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) to express its concern about the lack of progress in reducing complaints and particularly communication complaints. It also asked him to invite a member of the CLT to a future meeting to discuss what they were doing to improve complaints handling. During its consideration of the Annual Governance Statement half year update the Committee asked for a more detailed update report on the progress being made by the MySurrey Stabilisation Board to be provided in January. During its consideration of the Internal Audit Progress Report, the Committee asked for a report on the actions taken in response to the follow up audits on Tree Management and Social Value In Procurement.

Audit and Governance Committee

Audit and Governance Committee - Wednesday, 11 September 2024 10.00 am

At this meeting the committee approved the council's Risk Management Strategy and noted a report on the council's performance on risk management. They also noted a report on Internal Audit’s work in the first quarter of the year and a report on the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's annual review letter. The committee commended their own annual report to the October meeting of the full council and agreed an amended process for dealing with allegations of breaches of the member code of conduct. The committee also agreed the process for the recruitment of new independent persons.

Audit and Governance Committee

Audit and Governance Committee - Wednesday, 10 July 2024 10.00 am

The committee discussed a range of issues relating to the council's audit and governance arrangements. They approved the external audit plan, the Surrey Pension Fund external audit plan, and the draft annual governance statement. They also noted the whistleblowing and gifts and hospitality annual reports.

Audit and Governance Committee

Audit and Governance Committee - Wednesday, 5 June 2024 10.00 am

The committee noted the Annual Complaints Performance Report, the 2023/24 Treasury Management Outturn Report, Internal Audit's Annual Report and Opinion, and the Counter Fraud Annual Report. They deferred a decision on the External Audit Plan for 2023/24 pending further information about the fees.