Report of the Chairman on the work of the Audit Committee

This report gives an overview of the key items considered by the Committee at its meeting on 27 November 2025.

At the Audit Committee held on 27 November 2025, the following business was considered:

1. Internal Audit Progress Report 2025

1.1 The Committee received a report from the Deputy Head of Southern Internal Audit Partnership.

1.2 The Committee resolved to:

a) Note the Internal Audit Progress Report – October 2025,

b) Note the Internal Audit Progress Report – October 2026; and

c) Approve the adjustments to the Internal Audit Plan 2025-26

2. Risk Management/Corporate Risk Register (new format)

2.1 The Committee was shown worked examples of the new Risk Register that will be assurance based rather than risk based.

2.2 The Committee resolved to:

a) Note progress with the development of a new Risk Management Framework and Policy based on a governance assurance approach to risk management,

b) Review the worked examples shown in Appendix A which outlined how the Council’s key areas of governance would be addressed under the new arrangements within the revised approach; and

c) Provided comments on any suggested improvements necessary to provide assurance that key governance areas of the Council are address effectively.

3. 2024-25 Draft unaudited Financial Statements

3.1 The Committee considered the report and the draft unaudited financial statements, which were published on the Council’s website on 16 September 2025, in accordance with the statutory deadline.

3.2 The Committee resolved to acknowledge the report.

4. Annual Governance Statement 2024-25

4.1 The Committee considered a report that had originally been brought before the Audit Committee on 25 September 2025 when amendments were requested.

4.2 The Committee resolved to approve the draft Annual Governance Statement at Appendix 1 of the report.

5. Review of Effectiveness of Audit Committee

5.1 The Committee considered a report that outlined the findings of the review of effectiveness carried out during July-September 2025

5.2 The Committee resolved to:

a) Endorse the findings of the assessment of effectiveness of the Audit Committee’

b) Development a plan to identify opportunities to improve and strengthen the work of the Audit Committee; and

c) Agree the revised Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee for consideration by the Committee System Working Group.

6 Annual Review of the Confidential Reporting Code

6.1 The Committee considered a report on the updated Confidential Reporting Code.

6.2 The Committee resolved to note the updated Confidential Reporting Code and agree to retain the current Confidential Reporting Code as updated.