Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:       that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December, 2017, be noted.

The following Members made declarations of interest at the commencement of the meeting:

Councillor S. Freeguard        Private Report of the Head of Financial Services, Agenda Item 11, Internal Audit, Special Investigations, as she is a Member of the Social Care, Health and Housing Committee.

Councillor H. James               Private Report of the Head of Financial Services, Agenda Item 11, Internal Audit, Special Investigations, as she is a Member of the Social Care, Health and Housing Committee.

Councillor H.C. Clarke           Private Report of the Head of Financial Services, Agenda Item 11, Internal Audit, Special Investigations, as she is a Member of the Social Care, Health and Housing Committee.

Councillor L.Purcell                Private Report of the Head of Financial Services, Agenda Item 11, Internal Audit, Special Investigations, as she is Member of the Social Care, Health and Housing Committee.

Councillor S. Reynolds          Private Report of the Head of Financial Services, Agenda Item 11, Internal Audit, Special Investigations as she is a Governor of one of the schools referred to within the private report.

                                                 Councillor S. Reynolds withdrew from the meeting during discussion and voting thereon.

Members received an update from the Wales Audit Office on the 2018 Audit Plan for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, as detailed in the circulated report.

The Wales Audit Office thanked Officers for taking part in the grants certification pilot and stated that the financial element of this would now be rolled out throughout Wales.

RESOLVED:   that the report be noted.

Members received an update from the Wales Audit Office on current and planned Wales Audit Office work, as detailed in the circulated report.

RESOLVED:        that the report be noted.

Members received an overview of the Treasury Management action and information reported to Policy and Resources Cabinet Board on the 7 March, 2018, as detailed in the circulated report.

RESOLVED:        that the report be noted.

Members received an update on progress to 28 February, 2018, as detailed in the circulated report.

RESOLVED:        that the report be noted.

Members received an update on the final report issued following the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS), External Quality Review of the Internal Audit Service, as detailed in the circulated report.

The Head of Financial Services highlighted that the report was pleasing and any non-conformance was minor.  It was noted that updates on the recommended actions raised in the circulated report would be brought back to the next Audit Committee.

RESOLVED:        that the report be noted.

Members received an update and were asked to agree the Internal Audit Plan for 2018/19, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the circulated report.

RESOLVED:       that the Internal Audit Plan for the period 1 April, 2018 - 31 March, 2019, be approved.

RESOLVED:         that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following item of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

(At this point in the meeting Councillor S. Reynolds reaffirmed her interest in the Item and withdrew from the discussion and voting thereon).

Members received an update on Special Investigation Audits in the last quarter.

RESOLVED:        that the report be noted.