Issue - meetings

To provide an update to the Committee on the Audit Wales work programme for Quarter 1 . 

DECISION

To accept the reports

Note: 11b - suggestion to include names / examples of Gwynedd Social Enterprises in the response in order to understand the broader context

Alan Hughes and Yvonne Thomas (Audit Wales), Dewi Wyn Jones (Council Business Support Service Manager) and Jennifer Rao (Business Support Officer) were welcomed to the meeting to submit their observations / responses.

a)    Quarter 1 Update

Submitted - a quarterly update (up to 30 September 2023) on the work programme and timetable of Audit Wales. A discussion was held on the financial audit and local performance audit work, highlighting that the Annual Report would be published in November 2023.

The Audit Manager, Audit Wales drew the Committee's attention to one error in the report submitted.  Where the report noted "The Annual Form of the Joint Planning Policy Committee has not yet been received", they had actually received the Annual Form of the Joint Planning Policy Committee on 13 June 2023.

Reference was made to the Digital Themes Review highlighting that the first draft of the review had been shared with the Council. It was added that a Scrutiny Efficiency Review had been completed and that discussions had been held on 06-09-23 to agree on the final report. It was intended to submit the final report to the next meeting of the Committee. Reference was made to planned local government national studies, along with national reports and other outputs that had been published by Audit Wales since June 2022, which included 'A missed opportunity? - Social Enterprises'.

Gratitude was expressed for the report.

In response to an observation that there was no reference in the update to the recent concrete crisis (safety of public buildings constructed using RACC aerated concrete), it was noted that audit schemes would adapt as the need arose and as the matter was ongoing, it was likely to influence future schemes.