Agenda item - Chair's Communications

44.1    The Chair provided the following communications:

First of all, to say that members will have all received an invitation to the annual training and engagement session regarding the role of Internal Audit and our responsibilities in that regard as a committee. This will take place on 5^th March, and I think it’s an opportunity to discuss or understand the plan for the year ahead from Internal Audit. So, it won’t necessarily just be a repetition of training but it’s certainly a matter of engaging your views in what Internal Audit will be doing, so I hope that members will be able to attend that.

We have a number of substantial items before us today, when do we not but we do seem to have quite a lot today, firstly the External Auditors Annual (value for money) Report for 2024/25. This highlights a number of key recommendations on areas of significant weakness, including financial sustainability which is red for the 3^rd year running. So, I’m sure we’ll be tucking into discussion of that.

Also on our agenda is an update on the budget planning process. Members will note the purpose of the report before us and recommendations, which make clear our role is not to scrutinise the specific budget proposals but to consider whether the council has put in place proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources, whether the council is ensuring sound budget management and whether steps are being put in place to secure long term financial sustainability. So, I see this to mean that we are giving oversight to the process and achievement of overall goals rather than the individual specific proposals.

I would like to welcome Councillor Rowkins who is standing in for Councillor Taylor, who is unfortunately unable to join us. Councillor Rowkins is here to help support the presentation of the Auditors Annual Report and perhaps also discussion of the budget process too, so welcome.

Members will be aware that on our agenda today we are asked to approve the Code of Corporate Governance, together with giving feedback on the Risk Management Framework, it is our role to provide assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of the risk management framework. These are key areas of our oversight function which I’m sure members will pay particular attention to. We also have before us the Annual Standards Update and the Annual Surveillance Report, so all very significant items on the agenda.

Finally, I wish to let you know that I have received today a date for my cochlear implant surgery, it’s been a long time coming. Subject to pre-op checks going ok, which hopefully they will this time, my surgery will take place on 11^th February. Our next committee meeting is 21^st April, so with a fair wind I may be able to chair that, but it really is very had to know what the outcomes will be with my new bionic hearing. It can take some time to get use to it, so we just have to see what happens. But if I’m not able to chair, the honour will pass to our deputy chair, Councillor Loughran.