Agenda

Governance, Risk and Audit Committee - Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Council Offices. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2.

SUBSTITUTES

3.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

To receive public questions, if any.

4.

ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS

To determine any items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

5.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST pdf icon PDF 721 KB

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. The code of conduct for Members requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

6.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 403 KB

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Governance, Risk & Audit Committee held on 9th September 2025.

7.

GOVERNANCE, RISK AND AUDIT COMMITTEE UPDATE AND ACTION LIST pdf icon PDF 210 KB

To monitor progress on items requiring action from the previous meeting, including progress on implementation of audit recommendations.

8.

UPDATE ON THE 2024/2025 EXTERNAL AUDIT OF THE COUNCIL'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

To receive a verbal update from the Council’s External Auditor

9.

INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS & FOLLOW UP REPORT pdf icon PDF 643 KB

To review progress on internal audit recommendations

 

Recommendation: That the Committee is requested to:

 

• Receive and note progress with the 2025/26 Internal Audit Plan and outstanding recommendations.

 

• Approve the change to the Internal Audit Plan

 

 

10.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK PROVISION pdf icon PDF 200 KB

To report to the Committee on the work that is being done to build project management knowledge and resilience within the council.

 

 

Projects & Programme Management Framework

Executive Summary

This report outlines improvements that have been introduced to the project management framework to reinstate engagement and visibility of projects across the council.

 

It summarises the consultation undertaken, assesses alignment with corporate priorities, and evaluates financial, legal, and climate impacts.

 

This initiative aims to ensure project and programme governance is adhered to and engaged with consistently across all service areas.

Options considered

 

N/A

 

Consultation(s)

N/A

 

Recommendations

 

Continued support for ongoing development and management of the Projects & Programmes Framework

Reasons for recommendations

 

Continued improvements to standard lifecycle, governance boards, templates, and reporting.

Background papers

 

CLT Presentation, PM/O Charter

 

 

11.

PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY OVERSIGHT BOARD (PPOB) pdf icon PDF 163 KB

 

Performance and Productivity Oversight Board November 2025 update for GRAC

 

Executive Summary

This is an update report to inform GRAC of the work of Performance and Productivity Oversight Board and the progress made to date around various elements of the work of the Board.

 

Options considered

 

N/A

Consultation(s)

N/A

 

Recommendations

 

It is recommended that Members note the work that the Performance and Productivity Board has undertaken over the last 12 months and the progress that has been made on various issues.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

To achieve an understanding of the Council’s performance, drivers of service demand, changing policy context and ensure there is a strategy to respond to current and future pressures, along with the Board continually monitoring and challenging corporate performance and being a champion of service transformation.

 

Background papers

 

Performance and Productivity Oversight Board Terms of Reference.

 

 

 

12.

CIVIL CONTINGENCIES UPDATE pdf icon PDF 229 KB

To receive the Civil Contingencies Update

 

Civil Contingencies Annual Report

Executive Summary

The Civil Contingencies Team and the wider council has continued to discharge its responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act, 2004. 

 

Options considered

 

This is a briefing report only.

Consultation(s)

N/A – briefing report.

 

Recommendations

 

To note the report and the council’s contributions to the Norfolk Resilience Forum and the response to incidents.

Reasons for recommendations

 

A better understanding of the challenges in the past year and the role of the Norfolk Resilience Forum in emergency preparedness planning and incident response will help to discharge our obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act, 2004.

Background papers

 

-

 

 

13.

CORPORATE RISK REGISTER pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To review and note the corporate risk register and consider any necessary recommendations.

 

Interim Corporate Risk Register as at November 2025

Executive Summary

The Corporate Risk Register is reviewed by Committee annually and removal of risks where the residual risk score has met the target are proposed.

 

Options considered

 

Updating and sharing the corporate risk register represents good governance so no other options were considered.

 

Consultation(s)

All officers with responsibility for managing specific risks.

 

Recommendations

 

The Committee is recommended to note the report and remove specific risks from the register:

•           CR 009 – Poor Procurement

•           CR 029 – Poor Reputation of the Council in the Community

•           CR 038 - Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub (FLASH) – threat to building within funding window

•           CR 040 - Management Information System – failure to complete development and maintain when in use

Reasons for recommendations

 

The risks recommended for removal from the report have been successfully mitigated to the target level.

 

Background papers

 

Risk Management Policy and Framework adopted by GRAC 3 December 2024

 

 

14.

RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK pdf icon PDF 577 KB

To review the Risk Management Policy and Framework.

15.

PROCUREMENT EXEMPTIONS REGISTER pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To consider the Procurement Exemptions register.

16.

GOVERNANCE, RISK AND AUDIT COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 266 KB

To review the Governance, Risk & Audit Committee Work Programme.

17.

UPDATE ON THE LETTER TO THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE (NAO)

The Chair to update the Committee on the NAO reply to the Audit Committee’s letter and discuss any potential response.

18.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

To pass the following resolution, if necessary:

 

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph _ of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”