Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Michael Burnett (Independent Member) the Director for Resources and Head of Financial Operations.

To receive the public minutes of the previous meeting.

The public minutes of the last meeting were unanimously agreed.

To receive declarations of interest from Members

None declared.

To answer questions, if any, asked by any resident of the Borough pursuant to Standing Orders.

None received.

To receive a verbal report from the External Auditor

The External Auditor informed the Committee that work was ongoing to complete the infrastructure reporting work after the Statutory Instrument came into force on Sunday 25^th December 2022. He informed the Committee that it is likely that the Statutory Override is likely to be applied. Further to this he informed the Committee that the housing benefit claim work was ongoing, the teachers’ pension work had been completed and that the accounts would likely be ready to sign off by the end of January.

The External Auditor presented the Auditor's Annual Report On Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council 2021-22. Members asked the External Auditor questions relating to the report and were satisfied with the response. The Committee asked that the report not be sent to Full Council but be shared amongst all Councillors via the Members Briefing.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted the Auditor's Annual Report On Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council 2021-22.

The Treasury and Corporate Accountant presented the report as set out in the Agenda Pack. Committee Members asked questions and were satisfied with the response.

RESOLVED:

The Committee recommends that Full Council approves: -

·  The Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 to 2032/33 (Appendix A) including the Debt and Investment Strategy and Treasury and Prudential indicators contained within Page 37 Agenda Item 7 and specifically;

o  The Authorised Limit Prudential Indicator detailed within paragraph 3.2.2 of Appendix A;

o  The further Prudential Indicators for 2023/24 to 2032/33 contained within the extract from the Corporate Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2032/33 (Appendix B);

o  The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement contained within the extract from the Corporate Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2032/33 (Appendix B).

The Council’s Counter Fraud Lead presented the report as set out in the Agenda Pack. Committee Members asked questions and were satisfied with the response they received.

RESOLVED:

The Audit Committee noted the new wording of the Policy and endorsed the draft Policy, pending final approval by the Governance Committee.

The Head of Internal Audit presented the report as set out in the Agenda Pack and informed the Committee of the reports that would be presented to them at the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

The Audit Committee noted the work of Internal Audit and reviewed this information to inform the Committee’s work.

That the press and public be now excluded from the remainder of the business to be transacted, on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be now excluded from the remainder of the business to be transacted, on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive the private minutes of the last meeting.

The Committee unanimously agreed the Private Minutes of the last meeting.