Finance and Sustainability Committee Assurance Report - July 2025
Meeting: Trust Board – Public Meeting
Date: 9 July 2025
Report Title: Finance and Sustainability Committee Assurance Report
Agenda Item: PUB25/07/4.3
Committee Date: 28 May 2025
Meeting Chair: Chris Brook, Non-Executive Director and Committee Chair
Meeting quorate: YES
Purpose: Assurance
Link to Strategic Objective
- Be excellent collaborators and innovators as system partners.| |Be an environmentally and financially sustainable organisation.|
Summary of items considered at the meeting:
| Issue | Consideration | Resolution | Assurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Audit | The final audit for financial management was presented – with reasonable assurance | All the audit recommendations had been delivered, with one outstanding action associated with Quality Cost Improvement Plan (QCIP) planning and delivery – this has been embedded into 2025 plans. | Reasonable |
| Long-term Financial Model | Long-term Financial Future of the Trust Assured | The latest report from PA Consulting said that the Trust had a sustainable financial position for the coming 5-years. More to follow with publication of the details. | Good |
| Capital Development Plan | Capital Investment Plan – on track | The Committee was taken through where funds have been allocated, mostly in Estates, Fleet and Digital. | Good |
| Financial Performance and Integrated Performance Report (IPR) | Financial Performance was off to a good start | The Trust achieved a small surplus to plan for Month 1 of £278k. A number of budgetary items were being reviewed at the time of the report, which could lead to a healthier position. The IPR provided greater levels of detail associated with performance. | Substantial |
| Sustainability | Sustainability to be embedded into the way the Trust works | The Committee heard how several sustainability activities had progressed, notably the Board education sessions. There is still an outstanding ask for an Executive sponsor for Sustainability and for it to be adequately covered within the Board Assurance Framework (BAF) risk framework. Investments had been made in critical infrastructure areas, such as solar PV and within the new Ipswich Hub. | Moderate |
| Transformation | The Committee was provided with a top-level view of the change programmes closely linked with the Finance and Sustainability agenda | The new reports were noted, and a healthy discussion took place on benefits realisation and the tracking of benefits. It will be important to track the benefits of CEP25 through the Committee and to ensure that Estate benefit realisation is achieved from the sizeable investments made into key hubs. | Good |
Matters for escalation or referral:
None
