Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

The following declaration of interest was made in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct –

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 28 June and 23 July, 2010.

Agreed –

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

The City Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit the Annual Governance Report (ISA 260) highlighting the key issues arising from the audit of the Council’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March, 2010.

The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, submitted the Annual Governance Report (ISA 260) highlighting the key issues arising from the audit of the Council’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March, 2010. 

In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –

The External Auditor and the Committee commended the hard work of both the Corporate Accountancy and Finance Manager and the Assistant Head of Devon Audit Partnership and their respective teams.

The Committee noted the report.

The Director for Corporate Support will submit for re-approval the Statement of Accounts for 2009/10.

The Corporate Accountancy and Finance Manager reported that, following the audit of the draft Statement of Accounts submitted to Committee on 28 June, a few minor amendments had been made to the statements and disclosure notes.  As a result, there was now a requirement for Audit Committee to re-approve the accounts prior to the statutory deadline of 30 September, 2010.  Members were informed that the changes acted to strengthen the disclosure of information only and did not change the reported position.

Some Councillors expressed reservations and a reluctance to re-approve the accounts with regard to -

• the lack of adjustment being made to the accounts to reflect the reduction in the teachers’ unfunded pension liability of £1.661m
• the failure by 5 councillors to submit their annual declarations

However, following an assurance by the External Auditor that he was satisfied  that the City Council had done what was required of it and had been honest and competent, those reservations were withdrawn.

Agreed that –

The City Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit a report on Performance Management Arrangements.

Further to minute 27, the Committee reconsidered the report which was now accompanied by a more comprehensive action plan.  In response to questions raised, Members were advised that -

It was also reported that this would be Leslie Whitworth’s last meeting as she would shortly be leaving Grant Thornton on 30 September.

The Committee noted the report and expressed a vote of thanks to Leslie, wishing her all the very best for the future.

The Director for Corporate Support will submit a report regarding the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The Assistant Director for ICT reported that the approach of the Council had been rated as ‘good’ at the last inspection in May and that the Council compared favourably with other local authorities.  Members were also advised that -

• the number of RIPA investigations had decreased significantly in 2010
• there was now a requirement to have a separate policy document for RIPA and this policy would be prepared for the next inspection in May 2011
• a government review of RIPA was under way
• an action plan had been prepared to address the recommendations arising from the previous inspection, namely –
  • revising the application form
  • authorisations to be completed in handwriting
  • consequential amendments to the local Code of Practice

In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –

Agreed the annual report to Council and the recommendation that the current identified authorising officers can continue to make their own individual assessment in line with the Code of Practice, whilst considering proportionality and necessity, as to the appropriateness of undertaking covert surveillance, for preventing or detecting crime, or preventing disorder.

A representative from the Development and Regeneration Directorate will be in attendance to report on how the Directorate is managing risk.

The Business Manager for Development and Regeneration was in attendance to report on operational risk management within the directorate.  The Committee was informed that there continued to be a high level of commitment across the directorate, both at department management team and senior management level, and that a recent review of the directorate’s risk registers had revealed that there had been a reduction in the number of identified risks in all areas.  The Head of Corporate Risk and Insurance added that there had been a significant change within the directorate around how it managed risk and this was being incorporated into the new business management plan for economic development.  It was now working well from his point of view.

The Director for Corporate Support will submit a report summarising the latest formal monitoring exercise completed for the Strategic Risk Register for the period March 2010 to August 2010.

The Director for Corporate Support submitted the Strategic Risk Register Monitoring Report.  The report –

Agreed that the current position with regard to the Strategic Risk Register be noted and endorsed.

The City Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit a Review of Arrangements for Complying with Age Related Equalities Legislation.

Further to minute 28, the Committee reconsidered the report which was now accompanied by the attendance of the Assistant Head of Human Resources (Corporate Functions).  In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –

The Committee noted the report.

(Councillor Thompson declared a personal interest in respect of the above item).

The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit a report outlining progress against its work programme.

The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, submitted its audit plan progress report for projects undertaken in 2009/10.  Members were advised that reports in respect of the following should be ready for submission to the next meeting –

• Follow up on Customer Access Arrangements
• Follow up on Partnership Working Arrangements
• Corporate Restructuring Arrangements
• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

The Committee noted the report.

The City Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit its Value For Money Conclusion report.

The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, reported that –

In response to questions raised, he added that the Council was in a good place on the playing field and had done well to achieve £5.8m savings against an ambitious target of £6.2m.  However, there were council’s achieving higher than that and Plymouth would have to increase its savings significantly over the next few years by making a number of difficult decisions.

The Committee noted the report with thanks.

The Assistant Head of Devon Audit Partnership will submit the Audit Committee’s Work Programme for September 2010 to June 2011.

The Committee noted its work programme for September 2010 to June 2011, and agreed the addition of an extra meeting to take place at 2.00 p.m. on 15 November, 2010.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph            of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There were no items of exempt business.