Agenda

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2023 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The purpose of the report is to seek approval from the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee for the council's Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2021/22

RECOMMENDED that the Committee is asked to agree the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 Appendix 1)

(to be signed off before the Statement of Accounts)

The purpose of this report is to summarise the preliminary audit conclusion in relation to the audit of Portsmouth City Council for 2021/22.

Report to follow under separate cover.

RECOMMENDED that the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee notes the report.

The purpose of the report is for the Governance, Audit & Standards Committee to consider the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22.

Recommended that:

(i)     the Statement of Accounts be approved; and

(ii)    authority be delegated to the Chair of the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee to sign an amended 2021/22 Statement of Accounts after 8^th March 2023 should this be required following comments by the auditor.

The purpose of this report is to obtain the Council’s approval of the updated Treasury Management Policy Statement (attached) which includes the Annual Investment Strategy.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee note the recommendations in section 3 of the report that will go on to Full Council for approval.

The purpose of this report is update the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee on Internal Audit Performance for 2022/23 to 21 February 2023 against the AnnualAudit Plan, highlight areas of concern and areas where assurance can be given on the internal control framework and to present the proposed Internal Audit Plan for 2023/24 to the committee for approval, as set out in Appendix B.

Recommended that members

(i)             note the Audit Performance for 2022/23 to 21 February 2023;

(ii)           note the highlighted areas of concern in relation to audits

completed from the 2022/23 Audit Plan, including follow up work performed; and

(iii)         approve the proposed Internal Audit Plan for 2023/24.

The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee of any Data Security Breaches and enable them to determine whether any trends appear and whether any further actions should be recommended.

RECOMMENDED that the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee notes the breaches that have arisen.

To consider the re-appointment of an Independent Person whose term of office expires this May 2023, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011.

In view of the contents of the appendices to the following item on the agenda the Committee is RECOMMENDED to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that the appendices to the report contains information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972" The public interest in maintaining the exemption must outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information. Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) England Regulations 2012, regulation 5, the reasons for exemption of the listed appendices are shown below. (NB The exempt/confidential committee papers on the agenda will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties.

Members are reminded of standing order restrictions on the disclosure of exempt information and are asked to dispose of exempt documentation as confidential waste at the conclusion of the meeting.

Item Exemption                                                                                Para No.*

12. Procurement Management Information                                           3

(Exempt Appendices 1, 2, 3 & 4)

*3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.

The purpose of the report is to provide evidence to allow the committee to evaluate the extent that Portsmouth City Council is producing contracts for goods, works and services in a legally compliant value for money basis. The report also updates the committee on progress developing procurement performance reporting.

The report is for noting.