Agenda item

The Audit Manager, Audit Wales presented a report to Members; The document was prepared as part of work performed in accordance with Section 17 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 and Section 15 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It was noted that the project was undertaken to identify the level of audit assurance and/or where further audit work may be required in future years in relation to risks to the Council putting in place proper arrangements to secure value for money in the use of resources.  The Report summarised the findings where Audit Wales have undertaken more detailed assurance and risk assessment work that covered:

1. Financial Position
2. Implication of Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021
3. Self-Assessment arrangements
4. Carbon Reduction plan

The Audit Manager advised Members that in terms of the Council’s financial position, the Council is well-placed to respond to significant financial pressures it faces and that no major concerns were found in respect of the Council’s management of reserves.

It was noted that in terms of savings delivery, the Council’s approach to date has continued to be effective and the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan highlighted that this approach will be increasingly challenging without impacting on frontline services. In relation to performance against budget, it was noted that the Council has a good track record of delivering its services within the budget.

The Audit Manager continued by covering the Implications of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, noting that the Council is making good progress in developing its arrangements to meet the requirements of the Act, but has not yet agreed its approach for engaging with the public via a public participation strategy.

Context was provided for Members in that in July 2022, the Auditor General published Public Sector readiness for the Net Zero Carbon by 2030, which looked at decarbonisation action in 48 public bodies, including all Local Councils. The Audit Manager noted that the Council is progressing its carbon reduction plan; however further work is needed to identify resources to deliver its plans over the long term.

Lastly, the Audit Manager commented on the Council’s Digital Strategy and Members were advised that the Council agreed its new digital strategy in March 2022. Overall, it was noted that the Council has invested in its digital team and processes and has built on its previous digital strategy and the progress made during the pandemic to develop its new strategy and was developing arrangements to support its implementation.

Service Director, Finance and Improvement Services noted the recommendation made by Audit Wales in respect of meeting its net zero ambition and the need to fully cost its action plan and ensure alignment with the Medium-Term Financial Plan. The Service Director advised Members that the Council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Plan, reported in September 2022, sets out Climate Change as a key component of the Council’s financial planning arrangements and an on-going programme of work is in place to plan for and resource the work in this area.

The Governance and Audit Committee RESOLVED to:

-       Note the content in the report.