East Durham College Audit & Risk Committee 30th March 2026

R Harrison (Chair), V Bailey, C Lauder, G Edmunds and J Patrickson (co-opted). J Bromiley (observer) 

S. Bullock, Principal and CEO 

J. Mitchelson, Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning 

C. Briggs, Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance 

C. Leece (RSM, External Auditor) 

S Archibald (WBG, Internal Auditor) 

S Pritchard (Clerk to Corporation) 

S Laverick 

The Chair to the Committee welcomed individuals to the meeting and introduced new committee members before explaining the purpose of the private session.

The Chair to the Committee invited members to disclose any conflicts of interest that were not already noted and none were declared. 

The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting on 27 November 2025. 

The Chair to the Committee noted that some matters arising were captured on the agenda.  It was further noted that an AI training session for governors was planned with JISC for the July board meeting, that the written resolution mentioned in the minutes had been circulated and approved and that work was ongoing to identify a third party provider to deliver Cyber Security training to the board.  

Action: VP Finance and Business to finalise arrangements for Cyber Security training and report to the next meeting. 

The Chair to the Committee brought forward item 8.5 for discussion. 

The VP Finance and Business presented the report and explained the approach of the DfE Audit and its impact in being undertaken in-year.  The external auditor clarified that this report was provided by Mazars on behalf of the DfE, and had been made available as part of the external audit process. 

A committee member sought and received assurance that if the DfE were to audit again, that the issues identified would not arise again. 

GA left the meeting. 

The internal auditor presented the report and the committee welcomed the strong report.  The committee noted that there were no recommendations for improvement, four observations for consideration and eight good practice points, including training for invigilators, support for students with access requirements and feedback from exit interviews.  

CL left the meeting. 

 In relation to the observations made, the VP Curriculum and Quality confirmed that a staff member had been recruited to help with exam access arrangements and the policy review group were meeting the week after Easter when the draft policies would be reviewed, if not already approved. 

A member of the committee asked that the college did not become complacent in light of the strong report and the VP Curriculum and Quality confirmed this is a growth area, that the college is always looking for ways to improve, including increasing the availability of computers in classrooms, the use of technology for those who need readers and the investment in digital infrastructure.  

The Chair to the Committee thanked the CLG and wider team for their efforts for students who require access arrangements.  

The committee noted the report. 

The FE Sector Update was provided for the committee’s information. 

SA left the meeting. 

The Committee noted the report. 

Breaches and Waivers and High Value Orders 

The VP Finance and Business presented the report and highlighted that one procurement process breach had been identified and reported relating to leasing gym equipment and the context for this was explained. 

The report was noted. 

Risk Management 

The Principal presented the report and explained how risk management operates in the college for new members of the committee.  It was noted in particular that there are 25 strategic risks, that no risks have been removed, and one risk has been added reflecting whether the college has the resources required in its business functions.  It was further noted that controls were broadly effective in mitigating risks identified.  The Committee noted the rise in the scoring of the MIS risk to make it the risk with the highest residual risk score; this reflected the current state of implementing actions intended to reduce the level of this risk by the end of the academic year as requested by the Committee.  

In relation to the new area of risk, the committee welcomed the CLG’s responsiveness on this issue.  The committee confirmed they were content with the controls and scoring for this new risk. 

The committee discussed risks around staff recruitment and retention and the impact of the pay strategy, in particular in in-demand areas like maths, engineering and construction, and the risks around the new Ofsted inspection framework and how this was being addressed. 

Overall the committee noted the controls in place at the college, the influence over the risk scores, the further proposed mitigating actions, the movement in risk scores and the addition of risks since the last meeting of the committee in November 2025.  

The committee considered and approved the updated summary of the strategic risks for the college, as determined by the CLG at their 6 March meeting. 

The Committee noted the report.  

Sub -Contract Arrangements 

The Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance presented the report. 

 The committee was informed that the Principal was considering whether or not to sub-contract a greater amount of courses in order to deliver the higher quality job outcomes now required for NECA adult skills funding and this would be kept under review.  The VP Curriculum and Quality confirmed she was happy with the quality of provision of subcontractors and the value of work being delivered. 

The committee noted the progress made by sub-contracted partners towards their annual delivery agreements and the appointment of a new sub-contractor because of the poor performance of an originally procured sub-contractor in relation to meeting contract value.  

The Committee agreed the Subcontracting Agreement.  

Audit Tracker 

The VP Finance and Business drew the committee’s attention in particular to the vacancy in the MIS role and that the actions required of them would be kept under review to ensure they were picked up by the new person in post. 

The committee noted progress made on the tracker. 

The Committee noted the progress against recommendations.  

New Finance Action Plan Jan 2026 (for information) 

The Chair to the Committee noted that the action plan had been developed in light of issues arising from last year’s audit and that a request had been made for this to be broadened to address the significant growth in the college and the need for business structures and processes to develop in line with that growth. 

The VP Finance and Business presented the action plan to the committee and provided an update on actions completed since the plan was circulated, in particular regarding the recruitment of another management accountant and tighter controls to the purchase order system. 

 The Chair to the Corporation welcomed the document and highlighted that the committee was seeking assurance on behalf of the board that the college will have the right systems, structures, culture and shape to the finance function to meet the needs of the college now and going forward, by the end of the academic year.  In particular this related to receiving consistent, timely accurate reports.  The committee recognised that the key was for all major issues to be addressed this academic year and to be clear about how to measure what success looks like.  

 The committee requested that a report be brought to the board with the action plan appended, that sets out (1) what the action plan set out to do (2) the monitoring the committee has done, and (3) the timelines for when the CLG expects to provide assurance that major issues have been dealt with, with key issues around size, shape, and systems was addressed by the end of the academic year (with continuous improvement issues continuing into next year). 

 The committee noted the monthly meetings between the Principal and the VP Finance and Business and further requested that the project governance for this project be reviewed by the Chair to the Committee, the Chair to the Corporation and the Principal to ensure sufficient independent oversight. 

Action: Overview report to be prepared by the Principal and shared with Chair of Board and Chair of this Committee. 

 The committee noted the update. 

There was no further business and therefore the chair to the committee brought the meeting to a close.