Audit & Governance Committee - Tuesday 21 July 2026

Meeting held at the Council Offices, Kiln Road, Benfleet. Meeting Starts at 7pm Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. To Receive Declarations of Interest 3. Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 March 2026 4. Head of Internal Audit Annual Report 2025-26 To consider the report of the Head of Internal Audit providing an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Councils risk management control and governance process. 5. Internal Audit Recommendations and Agreed Management Actions Implementation Update To consider the report of the Head of Internal Audit updating the Committee on progress made in implementing internal audit recommendations and agreed management actions by services across the Council. 6. Counter Fraud & Investigation – Quarterly Progress Report To consider the report of the Counter Fraud Investigations Manager providing an update on progress made in delivering the Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy and Work Plan 2026/27. 7. Annual Report on the Treasury Management Service and Actual Prudential Indicators 2025/26 To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Finance & Procurement (s151 officer) providing an annual update on the Council’s treasury activities and the actual Prudential Indicators for 2025/26. 8.Treasury Management Update: First Quarter Stage To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Finance & Procurement (S151 officer) providing a quarterly update on the Council’s treasury management and investment activity for the period 1 April 2026 to 30 June 2026 9. External Audit Provisional Audit Plan 2025/26 To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Finance & Procurement providing the External Auditor’s audit plan for the year ended 31 March 2026. 10. Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Policy Performance and Customer seeking the Committee’s approval of the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26. 11. Annual Corporate Complaints Report 2025/26 To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Legal & Democratic Services (MO) summarising complaints and determinations received in 2025/26. 12. Annual Housing Complaints Report 2025/26 To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Housing providing and update on the annual complaints received and details improvements. 13. Corporate Risk Register To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Policy Performance and Customer which presents the Corporate Risk Register to the Committee 14. Strategic Business Risk Assessment Update To consider the report of the Assistant Director People and Engagement to provide the Committee with assurance on the Council’s approach to assessing hazard-based risks that may disrupt service delivery 15. Audit & Governance Committee Annual Report To consider the report of the Head of Internal Audit providing a report on the work of the Committee for 2025-2026 16. Work Plan Agendas and Minutes for Council meetings can be viewed at the link below. Minutes will be available a maximum of two weeks after the meeting. Where Minutes cannot be seen listed below then they will be contained in the Agenda for the subsequent meeting. https://castlepoint.cmis.uk.com/castl... Playlist    • Audit & Governance Committee