Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 January 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Head of Transformation

Purpose of report                                                                       

To update the Committee on the management of Strategic, Corporate and Partnership risks during the third quarter of 2015/16 and to report the progress made on the 2015/16 Risk & Opportunities Management Strategy review and Risk Training programme.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To review the quarter three Strategic, Corporate and Partnership Risk Register and identify any issues for further consideration or referral to Executive.

1.2         To note that there have been changes to four common risks’ scores:  two increases and two decreases. 

1.3         To note the progress made on the 2015/16 Risk and Opportunities Management Strategy review and the Risk Training programme.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Transformation which provided an update on the management of Strategic, Corporate and Partnership risks during the third quarter of 2015/16 and to report the progress made on the 2015/16 Risk & Opportunities Management Strategy review and Risk Training programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the quarter three Strategic, Corporate and Partnership Risk Register be noted and no issues be identified for further consideration or referral to Executive.

(2)          That it be noted that there have been changes to four common risks’ scores: two increases and two decreases.

(3)          That the progress made on the 2015/16 Risk and Opportunities Management Strategy review and the Risk Training programme be noted.

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of report

To provide members of Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee with an update on the joint Corporate Fraud team and to ask members to consider and endorse the joint Whistleblowing  and Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policies  which have been reviewed and to consider and endorse the new Fraud Response Plan Policy.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the contents of the report.

 1.2    To consider and endorse the policy changes and the new policy. 

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which provided an update on the joint Corporate Fraud team and sought consideration and endorsement of the joint Whistleblowing and Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policies which had been reviewed. The report also sought consideration and endorsement of the new Fraud Response Plan Policy.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That the policy changes to the Joint Whistleblowing Policy and the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy and the new Fraud Response Policy be endorsed.

Report of the Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of report

To receive Ernst Young’s report setting out external audit’s Annual Audit Plan for the financial year 2015/16.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the contents of Ernst Young reports on the Annual Audit Plan 2015/16 and Certification of Claims 2014/15.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which presented the council's external auditor, Ernst Young’s report setting out external audit’s Annual Audit Plan for the financial year 2015/16.

Resolved

(1)       That the Ernst Young reports on the Annual Audit Plan 2015/16 and Certification of Claims 2014/15 be noted.

Report of the Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of report

To receive PwC’s progress report summarising their internal audit work to date, the Draft Internal Audit Plan for next year and the draft Internal Audit Charter.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the 2015/16 progress report.

1.2         To note the 2016/17 Draft Internal Audit Plan.

1.3         To note the Internal Audit Charter.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which presented the councils internal auditor, PwC’s progress report summarising their internal audit work to date, the Draft Internal Audit Plan for next year and the draft Internal Audit Charter.

Resolved

(1)          That the 2015/16 internal audit progress report be noted.

(2)          That the 2016/17 Draft Internal Audit Plan be noted.

(3)          That the Internal Audit Charter be noted.

Report of the Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of report

To receive information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2015/16 for Quarter 3 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the contents of the Quarter 3 (Q3) Treasury Management Report.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which presented information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy for 2015/16 for Quarter 3 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Resolved

(1)          That the Quarter 3 (Q3) Treasury Management Report be noted.

Report of the Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to inform members of the progress which has been made towards the preparation of the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts and to review the proposed summary timetable for production.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To approve the summary closedown timetable as set out in the Appendix.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which informed Members of the progress which had been made towards the preparation of the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts and sought consideration of the proposed summary timetable for production.

Resolved

(1)          That the summary closedown timetable be noted.  

To note the work programme 2016/17.

The Committee considered the proposed work programme for 2016/17.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed work programme for 2016/17 be noted.

The following item contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraph of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3– Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Resolved

(1)          That the exempt appendix be noted.

** Please note that this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Exempt Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

The Committee considered an exempt report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which presented the Finance Improvement Plan, which was an outcome of the KPMG Review of NNDR Overpayment report adopted by the Committee on 20 January 2016.

Resolved

(1)          That the Finance Improvement Plan (exempt annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.