Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website at

County Councillors membership of Town, City, Parish or District Councils and this will be displayed in the meeting room (Where relevant).

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

There were no declarations of interest received from any member of the committee

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22^nd September 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the 22^nd of September 2022 were approved as a correct record subject one amendment to correct the spelling of surname for Cllr Mike Caswell (not Carswell).

The Chair will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Committee’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting will be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

There were no members of the public present/registered to speak.  

To approve both 

·         County Councils & Pension Fund accounts. 

Please note: Members of the audit committee are required to attend a Statement of Accounts training session at 9.30am on 24^th November in the Luttrell room, prior to committee.

Paul Griffin, Chief Accountant Somerset County Council introduced the Statement of Accounts and explained the sign off process of the County Councils & Pension Fund accounts. He explained that the accounts cannot be formally approved until statutory legislation has come into place regarding Highways Infrastructure Assets, and therefore asked the committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

The receive the following external audit reports

·         Somerset County Council Audit Findings Report 21/22

·         Somerset County Council Auditors Annual Report 21/22

·         Informing the Audit Risk Assessment for Somerset Pension Fund 21/22

·         Informing the Audit Risk Assessment for Somerset County Council 21/22

Somerset County Council Audit Findings Report 21/22 

Barrie Morris Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP talked members through the findings report and explained some of the recommendations for context.

·         Page 281 He explained that we are waiting for the pension fund auditor response.

·         As previously mentioned by the Chief Accountant, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The regular progress report from SWAP on the completion of the current Internal Audit Plan, highlighting any high risks that have arisen from their work

Alastair Woodland, Assistant Director SWAP Internal Auditing Services gave an overview of the internal audit progress update, highlighting areas of concern that have been identified from their work.

·         Page 420 provides a summary of the key reviews against the key strategic risks across the organisation.

·         Page 421 shows that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive verbal updates on Transport Governance overspend as identified in the Transport Governance report 21/22 -  requested by the Chair.

Alastair Woodland, Assistant Director SWAP Internal Auditing Services referred members back to the July ’22 SWAP Internal audit update report which identified limited assurance regarding transport budgets and overspends. He introduced Phil Curd, the Strategic Manager Access and ALN (Children’s’) and John Perrott, the Service Manager Transporting Somerset and explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The regular update on progress in mitigating the highest scoring risks  

Pam Pursley, Risk Manager gave the regular update on the Somerset County Council Risk Register and the progress in mitigating the highest scoring risks. She also informed members that following a previous suggestion made to her regarding Fraud, this was an area that she would be focussing on in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To review the LGR programme risks 

Angela Farmer, Risk Manager for the LGR Programme gave the regular update on the Local Government Reorganisation Programme risk workstream with a presentation highlighting any major risks and the most significant changes since the last update for members.

There were no questions or comments from members.

To consider and comment on the committee future work programme.

Jason Vaughan S151 Officer asked members to consider and comment on the committee future work programme and advised that following new guidance from CIPFA a report would be coming to the meeting of the 19th of January regarding the need for an additional independent member for the committee.

There were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The Chair to raise any urgent items of business.

There were no other urgent items of business raised by the Chair.