Barnet Council is seeking to appoint an independent member to its Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS), a move that will bolster the committee's oversight capabilities. The recruitment process for this crucial role is currently underway, as detailed in the committee's forward work programme.
The GARMS committee plays a vital role in ensuring the council's accountability and effective governance. Its key responsibilities concerning audit matters include reviewing corporate complaints performance, risk management, internal audit progress, treasury management, and external audit findings. The committee also considers the annual reports from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), along with relevant lessons and actions. In terms of risk management, the committee notes and considers the council's risk profile, including the active management of 191 open risks and an increase in high-level risks from 27 to 30 since the previous quarter.
Furthermore, GARMS reviews the outcomes of internal audit work, approves the Internal Audit Annual Plan for the upcoming year, and considers the Internal Audit Strategy and Charter. The committee also scrutinises the council audit progress report, sector updates, and pension fund audit findings. A significant aspect of its work involves reviewing the Treasury Management Strategy Statement before it is presented to the full Council.
The terms of reference for GARMS permit up to two independent members to serve on the committee specifically for audit matters. Currently, only one independent member is appointed, highlighting the importance of the ongoing recruitment.
The current composition of the GARMS committee, in addition to the independent members, includes Councillor Alex Prager as Chair, Councillor Beverley Kotey as Vice-Chair, and Councillors Asher Bennett, Adam Gheasuddin, Ajith Menon, and Danny Rich JP.
The committee's work is informed by detailed reports and data, including analyses of corporate complaints processes and outcomes. For instance, the committee reviews data on Stage 1 and Stage 2 complaints by service area, noting an average escalation rate of 25% for Barnet Council. It also examines the outcomes of Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigations over the previous three years, with a breakdown of upheld, premature, and not warranted investigations.
The committee's agenda and reports, such as the Public reports pack for the meeting on 17th September 2026, provide further details on these matters. Public reports pack 17th Sep 2026