Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
27
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2026):
59
Meetings (2025):
50
Meeting
Standards & Audit Sub Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 2nd July 2026
6:00 PM
Thursday, 2nd July 2026
6:00 PM
End:
Thursday, 2nd July 2026
10:00 PM
Thursday, 2nd July 2026
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
02 Jul 2026
02 Jul 2026
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Agenda
1
Election Of Chairman
Minutes
RESOLVED: That Councillor Dan Hayes is duly elected as Chairman for the municipal year 2026/27
2
Apologies for Non Attendance
Minutes
There were no apologies for non attendance but members were advised that there had been a change in the membership since the agenda was published.
3
Election of Vice Chairman
Minutes
RESOLVED: That Councillor Colin Towell is duly elected as Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2026/27
4
Declarations of Interest
Minutes
There were none
5
Minutes of the Meeting of the Sub Board held on 26 March 2026
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 26/03/2026 Standards & Audit Sub Board 24 Jun 2026
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2026 were signed as a true and correct record.
A Member queried the minute under Any Other Business as he felt that it did not reflect fully what was said by the previous Chairman.
It was agreed to seek advice from the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer.
A Member queried the minute under Any Other Business as he felt that it did not reflect fully what was said by the previous Chairman.
It was agreed to seek advice from the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer.
6
Deputations- Standing Order 3.4
(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Tuesday 30 June 2026. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes)
Minutes
There were none
7
Public Questions - Standing Order 3.5
(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon onTuesday 30 June 2026)
Minutes
There were none
8
Local Government Ombudsman Review 2025/2026
To advise the Sub Board of the Annual Review Letter 2026 received from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).
Attachments:
- Document Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review 2025-26 24 Jun 2026
- Document Gosport Borough Council 24 Jun 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Chief Executive advising the Sub Board of the Annual Review Letter 2026 received from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).
Members were advised that this is a report presented annually. The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) collates statistics and produces an annual letter which is shared to the Council in the letter attached and is published on the LGO website.
The officer explained that the number of complaints are slightly up but there are no standout causes for concern. Five of the complaints have not yet been determined, therefore the outcome for those will be published in the annual letter for 2026/27.For the first time the year the Ombudsman letter includes reporting on compliance in relation to actions as a result of upheld complaints and the letter confirmed that the actions relating to the one complaint that was upheld were completed as required and within the set timeframe.
This report does not include complaints to Housing and Social Care Ombudsman, as these are reported separately and relate to the Council’s responsibility as a Landlord, and therefore do not fall with the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman.
Members agreed with the officers conclusions and felt there were no areas of concern, and were pleased to hear all remedial action has taken place.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
Members were advised that this is a report presented annually. The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) collates statistics and produces an annual letter which is shared to the Council in the letter attached and is published on the LGO website.
The officer explained that the number of complaints are slightly up but there are no standout causes for concern. Five of the complaints have not yet been determined, therefore the outcome for those will be published in the annual letter for 2026/27.For the first time the year the Ombudsman letter includes reporting on compliance in relation to actions as a result of upheld complaints and the letter confirmed that the actions relating to the one complaint that was upheld were completed as required and within the set timeframe.
This report does not include complaints to Housing and Social Care Ombudsman, as these are reported separately and relate to the Council’s responsibility as a Landlord, and therefore do not fall with the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman.
Members agreed with the officers conclusions and felt there were no areas of concern, and were pleased to hear all remedial action has taken place.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
9
Gifts & Hospitality Return for Council Staff
To advise the Sub-Board of the Gifts and Hospitality declared by Council Staff for the period April 2025 – March 2026.
Attachments:
- Document Draft Gifts and hospitality return report 202526 24 Jun 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer advising the Sub Board of the Gifts & Hospitality declared by Council Staff for the period April 2025-March 2026.
Members were advised that The Council has a has a Gifts and Hospitalities Policy for staff as detailed within the Code of Conduct for employees within the Council’s constitution. This report is presented annually to the Standards and Audit Sub Board
and sets out an overview of the policy, a collation of value of the gifts and hospitality received or declined.
Gifts received are up slightly in number, and offers of hospitality are down.
The Council’s threshold of £25 remains on par with neighbouring authorities, and the report supports the Council in being transparent about any gifts and hospitality offered or received.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
Members were advised that The Council has a has a Gifts and Hospitalities Policy for staff as detailed within the Code of Conduct for employees within the Council’s constitution. This report is presented annually to the Standards and Audit Sub Board
and sets out an overview of the policy, a collation of value of the gifts and hospitality received or declined.
Gifts received are up slightly in number, and offers of hospitality are down.
The Council’s threshold of £25 remains on par with neighbouring authorities, and the report supports the Council in being transparent about any gifts and hospitality offered or received.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
10
Internal Audit Annual Audit Opinion 2025/26
To present the Annual Audit Opinion for 2025/26 to the Members with responsibility for governance for noting, as set out in Appendix A.
Attachments:
- Document Audit Opinion 2526 Covering Report 24 Jun 2026
- Document Appendix A - Annual Audit Report and Opinion 202526 24 Jun 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) presenting the Annual Audit Opinion for 2025/26 to the Members with responsibility for governance.
The Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) advised the Sub Board that the report is a statutory requirement, presented annually, and provides a culmination of all the work in the financial year 2025/26.
Members were advised that the overall annual audit opinion will remain at Limited Assurance, and whilst there had been improvement in the number of exceptions closed, there remains a significant number of actions outstanding across the authority.
Members felt that things were moving in the right direction, and were happy to acknowledge the independence of the work.
The CIA explained that some improvements could only happen with financial input, for example the need to update IT systems. A Member hoped the work of the Task & Finish Group would help with some of the actions, but were aware of the huge amount of work and financial challenges of Local Government Reorganisation.
In answer to Member’s questions, the CIA advised that the counter fraud information presents how many alerts we have received throughout the year that help to better inform and prepare our departments against fraud. He explained that Career Pologamy is where staff members hold many positions or roles at the same time, and that mandate fraud is mainly scammers pretending to be suppliers asking for bank details.
Members were advised that it is rare that an assurance moves negatively, but they may stay the same once the follow up audits have been completed.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
The Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) advised the Sub Board that the report is a statutory requirement, presented annually, and provides a culmination of all the work in the financial year 2025/26.
Members were advised that the overall annual audit opinion will remain at Limited Assurance, and whilst there had been improvement in the number of exceptions closed, there remains a significant number of actions outstanding across the authority.
Members felt that things were moving in the right direction, and were happy to acknowledge the independence of the work.
The CIA explained that some improvements could only happen with financial input, for example the need to update IT systems. A Member hoped the work of the Task & Finish Group would help with some of the actions, but were aware of the huge amount of work and financial challenges of Local Government Reorganisation.
In answer to Member’s questions, the CIA advised that the counter fraud information presents how many alerts we have received throughout the year that help to better inform and prepare our departments against fraud. He explained that Career Pologamy is where staff members hold many positions or roles at the same time, and that mandate fraud is mainly scammers pretending to be suppliers asking for bank details.
Members were advised that it is rare that an assurance moves negatively, but they may stay the same once the follow up audits have been completed.
RESOLVED: That the Sub Board noted the report
11
Draft Annual Governance Statement 2025/26
To seek approval from Members in respect of the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2025/26, which will subsequently be passed to the Policy and Organisation Board for final approval with the Statement of Accounts.
Attachments:
- Document Covering report AGS 2526 24 Jun 2026
- Document Appendix A - Annual Governance Statement GBC 2526 FINAL 24 Jun 2026
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) seeking approval from members in respect of the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2025/26 which will subsequently be passed to the Policy & Organisation Board (P&O) for final approval with the Statement of Accounts.
The Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) advised that this was the draft Annual Governance Statement which will be taken to a Policy & Organisation Board along with the annual statement of accounts. This years statement represents a more structured, concise and evidence-based document. This is alive document that will be updated before being presented to P&O should any changes in governance or significant issues arise.
In answer to a Member’s question, the CIA advised that he is in regular dialogue with our external auditors who review audits carried out to potentially inform their work.
RESOLVED: That the Standards and Audit Sub Board approved the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26.
The Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) advised that this was the draft Annual Governance Statement which will be taken to a Policy & Organisation Board along with the annual statement of accounts. This years statement represents a more structured, concise and evidence-based document. This is alive document that will be updated before being presented to P&O should any changes in governance or significant issues arise.
In answer to a Member’s question, the CIA advised that he is in regular dialogue with our external auditors who review audits carried out to potentially inform their work.
RESOLVED: That the Standards and Audit Sub Board approved the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26.
12
Any Other Items
To consider any other items that the Chairman deems urgent
Minutes
Previous Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in