Agenda

To receive any announcements from the chair and general housekeeping matters.

To record apologies for absence and the attendance of substitute members. 

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Joint Audit and Governance Committee minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2024. 

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent.

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

To receive the update report from the head of development and corporate landlord.

To receive the report from the Head of Legal and Democratic (as Data Protection Officer).

The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee of the council’s use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources during 2024 as required by the statutory code of practice in our enforcement work having proper regard to the principles of necessity, proportionality and lawfulness.

Recommendation:

That the committee:

a)    notes that surveillance is one of the tools available to the councils as part of their law enforcement functions.

b)    consider and note the council’s use and compliance with RIPA.

c)    agree the conclusions of this report and support the recommended actions in the action plan.

d)    Notes the authorisation to the Head of Legal and Democratic to make such changes to the Policy and Procedures documents as he may consider necessary from time to time to ensure ongoing compliance with the requirements of the 2000 Act and associated guidance.

To receive the report from the Internal Audit and Risk Manager.

The purpose of this report is to summarise the outcomes of recent internal audit activity at both councils for the committee to review. 

Recommendation:

That members review the results of recent internal audit work and monitor progress of management actions.

To receive the report from the Head of Finance.

The purpose of the report it to provide an update on the mid-year treasury management position and prudential indicators with a view to the remainder of the year.

Recommendation:

That Joint Audit and Governance Committee:

1.    notes the treasury management mid-year monitoring report 2024/25.

2.    is satisfied that the treasury activities are carried out in accordance with the treasury management strategy and policy, and

3.    make any comments and recommendations to Cabinets as necessary.

To receive the report from the Head of Finance.

The purpose of the report is to present the council’s Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) for 2025/26.

Recommendations:

That Joint Audit and Governance Committee approves each of the following key elements of this report and recommends these to Cabinet:

Vale of White Horse:

1.    To approve the treasury management strategy 2025/25 set out in Appendix A to this report.

2.    To approve the prudential indicators and limits for 2025/6 to 2027/28 as set out in Appendix A.

3.    To approve the annual investment strategy 2025/6 set out in Appendix A, and the lending criteria detailed in table 6.

South Oxfordshire District Council:

1.    To approve the treasury management strategy 2025/26, set out in Appendix A to this report.

2.    To approve the prudential indicators and limits for 2025/26 to 2027/27 as set out in Appendix A.

3.    To approve the annual investment strategy 2025/26 set out in Appendix A, and the lending criteria detailed in table 6.

4.    To approve the Environmental, Social and Governance policy in Appendix E.

To note the committee’s work programme.

To consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended on the grounds that:

(i)     It is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A, and

(ii)    the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Joint Audit and Governance Committee confidential minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2024.