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Amended Introduction by Chairman of Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

As the Chair of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee, it is my pleasure to introduce the annual report, providing an overview of the Committee’s activity during the Municipal Year 2021/22.

The Council continues to face challenges from the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic as well as the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation brought on by the war in Ukraine. As a Committee, we have maintained our focus on the issues facing the Council from a risk, control and governance perspective.  This report looks back and gives us opportunity to reflect on the activity and achievements of the Committee during the Municipal Year 2021/22.

The Committee has discharged its responsibility to provide independent assurance on the adequacy of the Council’s risk management framework and the associated control environment.  We have also provided robust scrutiny and challenge of the Authority’s financial performance. 

The Committee monitored the work of the external auditors, Grant Thornton, and has been disappointed with their failure to complete the audit of the 20/21 accounts, on which their opinion remained outstanding as at September 2022.

During 2021/22 the Committee met five times and I was pleased to note, among the highlights, consideration of the Council’s risk management processes and a positive opinion on the Council’s control and governance from our internal auditors.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Members, the Parish Representatives and Officers that have supported the Committee over the last year. Their professionalism, integrity, and openness have helped us to discuss, challenge and debate key issues and agree solutions and improvements where appropriate to do so.

Councillor Alan Bartlett – Audit, Governance and Standards Committee Chairman