Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence, or details of substitutions to the Committee membership.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Ammar Anwar, Joshua Sheard, Jo Lawson and Elizabeth Smaje.

Toapprovethe Minutesofthemeetingsof the Committeeheld on 25 November and 2 December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 25 November and 2 December 2022 be approved as a correct record.

Committee Members will be asked to advise if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion or vote on an item, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public.  This only changes where there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual.  You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the agenda which are to be discussed in private, by  virtue of the reports containing information which falls within a category of exempt information as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The committee noted the submission of exempt information, as set out at Agenda Items 16 and 17.

The Committee will receive any petitions andhear any deputations from members ofthe public.A deputationis whereup to fivepeople canattend the meeting andmake apresentation onsome particularissue ofconcern. A memberofthe publiccan alsohand ina petitionat the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.  

No deputations or petitions were received.

The Committee will hear any questions fromthe general public.

No questions were asked.

To consider the External Assessment of Internal Audit Standards

Contact: Martin Dearnley, Head of Risk

RESOLVED –

1)    That the Assessors report be noted.

2)    That the Action Plan be approved.

3)    That monitoring reports be received by this committee on a quarterly basis.

To consider the report.

Contact: James Anderson, Head of Accountancy

RESOLVED - That the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 incorporating (i) the borrowing strategy, (ii) the investment strategy, (iii) the policy for provision of repayment of debt (Minimum Revenue Provision) (iv) the treasury management prudential indicators and (v) the investment strategy (non-treasury investments) be referred to the meeting of council on 8 March 2023.

To consider the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22.

Contact: Simon Straker, Audit Manager

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22, subject to amendment of Section 1 of the Action Plan to note the publication date of the next revision of ‘Our Council Plan’.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to make necessary minor amendments to the statement.

To consider the report.

Contact: Grant Thornton, External Auditor

RESOLVED - That the External Audit Findings Report be received and noted.

To consider the report.

Contact: James Anderson, Head of Accountancy

RESOLVED –

1)    That the Statement of Accounts 2021/22 incorporating the Annual Governance Statement be approved.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Chair of Corporate Governance and Audit Committee and the Service Director - Finance to sign the final accounts and letter of representation upon completion of the audit.

3)    That enquiries be made of the WYPF as to what actions were being taken to prevent the repeat of delays experienced in finalising the accounts.

To consider the dates and times for meetings of Council for the 2023-2024 municipal year.

Contact: Samantha Lawton, Head of Governance

RESOLVED –

1)    That the schedule of Council meetings for the 2023-24 municipal year be submitted to the meeting of Council on 22 February 2023 with a recommendation of approval.

2)    That the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 5(6) will be complied with either by adding an additional meeting date or being included within one of the meetings listed.

Under the provision of Council Procedure Rule 24(5) Councillor Kath Pinnock and Councillor John Taylor asked that their vote against the resolution be recorded.

To consider the report.

Contact: Martin Dearnley, Head of Risk

RESOLVED – That the risk management report be received and noted.

To receive an IT Audit Controls Update.

Contact: Terence Hudson, Head of Technology

RESOLVED –

1)    That the report be received and noted.

2)    That the committee was satisfied with the IT controls.

RESOLVED - That following an informal scoping session to outline the required content, a report on Primary Care Networks be considered at the next meeting of this Committee.

(Note: This item, which did not appear on the agenda for the meeting, was allowed by the Chair to be considered as a matter of urgency in order to ensure the delayed report could be submitted to the Committee at the earliest opportunity).

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED – That acting under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the pubic be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Park 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as specifically stated in the undermentioned minutes.

This report is recommended for consideration in private because the information contained in it is exempt information within part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 namely that the report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making.

Exempt appendix in relation to Agenda Item 13.

The committee noted the exempt information, which was an appendix to Agenda Item 13.

This report is recommended for consideration in private because the information contained in it is exempt information within part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 namely that the report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making.

Exempt appendix in relation to Agenda Item 14.

The committee noted the exempt information, which was an appendix to Agenda Item 14.