Agenda, decisions and minutes

8. Housing Benefit Subsidy.

Councillor Hugo Brown, Non Statutory Interest, as a member of the CSN Board.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 March 2021

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 March 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of Director of Finance and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes

Purpose of report

This report summarises the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring positions as at the end of March 2021. The Committee will focus on the risk elements of the report.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the risk aspects of the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report.

1.2         To note the revised Risk and Opportunities Management Strategy 2021-22.

Resolved

(1)          That the risk aspects of the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted

(2)          That the revised Risk and Opportunities Management Strategy 2021-22 be noted

The Director of Finance and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes submitted a report which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring positions as at the end of March 2021.

The Chairman reminded Members that the Committee was responsible for monitoring the risk aspects of the report.

Resolved

(1)          That the risk aspects of the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted

(2)          That the revised Risk and Opportunities Management Strategy 2021-22 be noted

Report of the Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To provide members of this Committee with an update on the Housing Benefit subsidy claim audit for the financial year 2019-2020.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the contents of the report

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report be noted

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided members with an update on the Housing Benefit subsidy claim audit for the financial year 2019-2020.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report be noted

Report of the Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To make the Committee aware of the final 2019/20 Annual Audit Letter and 2019/20 Audit Fee

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1         Note the final 2019/20 Annual Audit Letter

1.2         Note the £101,410 audit fee for work over and above the 2019/20 scale fee of £40,138.

Resolved

(1)          That the final 2019/20 Annual Audit Letter be noted

(2)          That the £101.410 audit fee for work over and above the 2019/20 scale fee of £40,138 be noted.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which presented the final External Audit 2019/20 Annual Audit Letter and 2019/20 Audit Fee.

The Committee thanked the External Audit team for the worked carried out.

Resolved

(1)          That the final 2019/20 Annual Audit Letter be noted

(2)          That the £101.410 audit fee for work over and above the 2019/20 scale fee of £40,138 be noted.

*** The appendices to this report will follow as they are currently being reviewed and finalised ****

Report of Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To provide an opportunity for review of the draft 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the report and raise any queries on the draft statement of accounts (Appendix 1).

1.2      To approve the accounting policies as approved by the Chief Finance Officer (Appendix 2).

1.3      To approve the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21(Appendix 3).

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the draft 2020/21 Statement of Accounts be noted.

(2)          That the accounting policies as approved by the Chief Finance Officer be approved

(3)          That the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21 be approved

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided an opportunity for the Committee to review the draft 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

The Committee thanked the finance team for the work carried out this year and in the previous year.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the draft 2020/21 Statement of Accounts be noted.

(2)          That the accounting policies as approved by the Chief Finance Officer be approved

(3)          That the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21 be approved

Report of the Chief Internal Auditor

Purpose of report

This is the annual report of the Chief Internal Auditor, summarising the outcome of the Internal Audit work in 2020/21, and providing an opinion on the Council's System of Internal Control.

Recommendations

The committee is recommended to:

1.1       Consider and endorse this annual report.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the report be endorsed

The Chief Internal Auditor presented a report which summarised the outcome of the Internal Audit work in 2020/21 and provided an opinion on the Council's System of Internal Control.

The Committee and Chief Internal Auditor thanked the internal audit team for their performance through the year and the effort required to deliver the plan.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the report be endorsed

Report of the Director of Finance

Purpose of report

The report presents the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2021/22.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       to note and comment on the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2021/22.

Resolved

(1)          That the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2021/22 be noted

The Director of Finance submitted a report which presented the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2021/22.

Resolved

(1)          That the Internal Audit Strategy and Plan for 2021/22 be noted

Report of the Director of Finance

Purpose of report

To receive information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy and Prudential Indicators for 2020-21 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the contents of the 2020-21 Treasury Management Outturn Report.

1.2         To recommend Council to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2020-21.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the 2020-21 Treasury Management Outturn Report be noted.

(2)          That Council be recommended to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2020-21.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided information on treasury management performance and compliance with treasury management policy and Prudential Indicators for 2020-21 as required by the Treasury Management Code of Practice.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the 2020-21 Treasury Management Outturn Report be noted.

(2)          That Council be recommended to note the Council’s Treasury Management Activity in 2020-21.

To consider and review the Work Programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted.

The Assistant Director of Finance gave an overview of the indicative work programme for the 2021/2022 municipal year.

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted.