Agenda item

To receive and consider the interim update report of the Internal Auditor, Auditing Solutions for 2024/25 and January 2025 stocktake for liquor conducted by the Council’s independent stock checker.

To also receive and consider the report of the RFO in relation to the appointment of the Internal Auditor 2025-26.

The Committee received and considered the interim update report of the Internal Auditor, Auditing Solutions for 2024/25 along with the January 2025 stocktake for liquor conducted by the Council’s independent stock checker.

Members welcomed the report which provided reassurance as it highlighted no areas of concern.

It was also acknowledged by Members that the January 2025 stocktake showed improvements to the running costs for the Corn Exchange.

The Committee then considered the appointment of Auditing Solutions for an additional year. The RFO reiterated the recommendation in his report that a full review of providers would be carried out in March 2026 ahead of the 2026/27 audit appointment.

Resolved:

1. That, the Interim Audit Report 2024/25 from the Council’s internal auditors be noted and,
2. That, the external stocktake report for January 2025 be noted and,
3. That, the appointment of Internal Auditor report be noted and,
4. That, Auditing Solutions are appointed as the Councils Internal Auditor for 2025-26 and,
5. That the appointment of Internal Auditor for 2026-27 be reviewed in March 2026 and,
6. That the Council review its internal audit service provision in 2026 ahead of the procurement of the internal audit service for 2027-28.