Minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 16 June 2026
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Audit and Risk Committee — 16 June 2026 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2026 Present: Councillor Kieron Green (Chair) Emily Austin Councillor Ross Moreland Janice Preston Attending: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Paul MacAskill, Chief Internal Auditor, Argyll and Bute Council Eilidh Gallagher, Head of Primary Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Lynsey Innis, Committee and Democratic Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Mhairi Weldon, Senior Audit Assistant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no apologies for absence intimated. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Audit and Risk Committee held on 16 December 2025 were approved as a correct record. 4. INTERNAL AUDIT UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the work carried out by Argyll and Bute Council’s Internal Audit Team on audits which are of operational relevance to the Committee. Discussion took place around the ongoing delays in completing several audit actions, some of which had been delayed and rescheduled a number of times. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee – 1. reviewed and considered the progress on completion of the internal audit recommendations and 2. noted with concern the ongoing delays in completion of several of the actions. (Reference: Report by Chief Internal Auditor dated 17 February 2026, submitted)
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5. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP (HSCP) 2026/27 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the 2026/27 HSCP Internal Audit Plan which was aligned to the HSCP’s Strategic Risk Register and which took cognisance of the HSCP Joint Strategic Plan. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee – 1. noted the Internal Audit Strategic Planning process covering 2024-2027; and 2. endorsed the 2026/27 HSCP Internal Audit Plan. (Reference: Report by Chief Internal Auditor dated 17 February 2026, submitted) 6. HSCP CULTURE AUDIT - UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on progress against the Internal Audit findings relating to HSCP Culture. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee – 1. noted the progress made against the agreed audit actions; 2. agreed the closure of all actions; and 3. noted the position in relation to the Joint Partnership Forum (JPF). (Reference: Report by Deputy Director of People dated 17 February 2026, submitted) 7. STRATEGIC RISK REGISTER REVIEW The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an opportunity to review the Strategic Risk Register and consider the outcome of the Risk Appetite Development Session held in December. Discussion was had around the residual risk trends and the factors influencing each risk rating. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee – 1. noted that the Strategic Risk Register had been reviewed and changes recommended; 2. reviewed and approved the Strategic Risk Register; 3. noted the negative risk trend relating to Partnership Working, and noted that this will continue to be kept under review;
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4. noted the outcome of the Risk Appetite Workshop and agreed IJB members should be asked to re-submit responses to improve the participation rate; and 5. noted that the Strategic Risk Register would be presented to the March 2026 meeting of the IJB. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 February 2026, submitted) 8. AUDIT SCOTLAND: PUBLICATIONS The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting three recent Audit Scotland reports of potential interest to the Committee. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee noted the Audit Scotland publications highlighted within the submitted report. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 February 2026, submitted) 9. GLOBAL RISKS REPORT 2026 The Committee gave consideration to a report summarising key strategic and global risks outlined within the Global Risks Report 2026, some of which were relevant at a local level and others which informed an understanding of how the future operational environment may look. Decision The Audit and Risk Committee noted the contents of The Global Risks Report 2026 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and considered if there were any implications for the Strategic Risk Register. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 February 2026, submitted) 10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting was noted as Tuesday 16 June 2026.