Agenda and minutes
Venue: COUNCIL HOUSE, PLYMOUTH (next to the Civic Centre)
Contact: Katey Johns, Democratic Support Officer Email: katey.johns@plymouth.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November, 2010. Minutes: Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November, 2010. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration. Minutes: There were no items of Chair’s urgent business. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INDEPENDENT MEMBER The Committee will be informed of the resignation of Lynne Myles, Independent Member. Minutes: The Chair reported on the resignation of Lynne Myles one of the Committee’s Independent Members. The Committee was informed that, whilst Ms. Myles had found her role on the Committee extremely challenging, rewarding and developmental over the past three years, it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to attend meetings due to work pressures and she no longer felt able to fulfil the role to the best of her abilities.
Members were advised that the Chair had responded to Ms. Myles offering his thanks for her services to the Committee and wishing her well for the future. Recruitment would now commence with a view to appointing a new Independent Member before the next meeting of the Committee and Members were invited to send suggested nominations to the Chair and Vice-Chair.
(In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Chair brought forward the above item for urgent consideration because of the need to inform Members). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT UPDATE REPORT PDF 108 KB The Committee will receive an update report in respect of Operational Risk Management. Minutes: The Director for Corporate Support submitted an update in respect of Operational Risk Management. In attendance to present the report was the Head of Corporate Risk and Insurance who advised that –
In response to questions raised, the Committee was advised that –
Agreed that –
(This item was considered in conjunction with the Independent Review of the Council’s Risk Management Maturity report detailed under minute 63). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL'S RISK MANAGEMENT MATURITY - SUMMARY PDF 955 KB The Committee will receive for its information a summary of Heath Lambert’s key findings arising from the review of the Council’s Risk Management Maturity. A copy of the full report will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee welcomed Judy Jones from Heath Lambert who was in attendance to present the findings of the independent review undertaken in regard to the Council’s risk management maturity. The report -
In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –
Agreed that –
(This item was considered in conjunction with the Operational Risk Management Update report detailed under minute 62). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ANNUAL REVIEW OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS PDF 4 MB The Director for Corporate Support will submit the Annual Review of Financial Regulations. Minutes: The Director for Corporate Support submitted for consideration the Annual Review of Financial Regulations. In attendance to present the report to Committee was the Corporate Accountancy and Finance Manager. Members were advised that –
Given that the constitution should be embedded in the Council and subject to little change, concern was expressed at the proposal to incorporate documents which were subject to frequent review. Concern was also expressed at the level of delegation being proposed to officers, particularly in respect of –
· Emergency Spending proposals within the new Finance Rules · Capital Programme Governance arrangements
Agreed that –
(Councillor Evans’ proposal to amend recommendation (3) so that the new Finance Rules be discussed at Council, having been seconded by Councillor Stark, was put to the vote and declared carried).
(Councillor Stark’s proposal to amend recommendation (4) so that new schemes costing up to £100,000 required approval by the relevant Cabinet Member, having been seconded by Councillor Evans, was put to the vote and declared carried).
(Councillor Evans’ proposal to include an additional recommendation (5), having been seconded by Councillor Stark, was put to the vote and declared carried). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2011/12 PDF 209 KB The Director for Corporate Support will submit the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director for Corporate Support submitted for consideration the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2011/12. In attendance to present the report to Committee was the Corporate Accountancy and Finance Manager. Members were advised that the report -
In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –
Agreed that the –
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) - PROGRESS REPORT The Director for Corporate Support will provide a verbal update in respect of International Reporting Standards (IFRS). Minutes: The Corporate Accountancy and Finance Manager provided a verbal update on progress towards International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It was reported that –
In response to questions raised, Members were advised that the initial preparation for this work had primarily involved substantial use of finance resources, however, more departments were now being required to input to the project such as procurement, through the review of contracts, and Community Services. The Council had not received any financial support towards the cost of the IFRS work in terms of officer time and resources. The work would result in additional work by the external auditor for which a fee would be payable. However, the cost of the additional audit work was being fully mitigated by the Audit Commission.
The Committee noted the update with thanks. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXTERNAL AUDIT - CERTIFICATION WORK REPORT 2009/10 PDF 134 KB The Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit the Certification Work Report for 2009/10. Minutes: The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, submitted the Certification Work Report for 2009/10. The report –
Members were advised that a correction was required to the table set out on page 157 and that, within the 2009/10 column, the figure 7 should read 6 and the figure 1 should read 2.
In response to questions raised, Members heard that –
The Committee noted the Certification Work Report for 2009/10. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXTERNAL AUDIT - AUDIT PLAN 2010/11 PDF 777 KB The Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, will submit its Audit Plan for 2010/11. Minutes: The City Council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, submitted the Audit Plan for 2010/11. Members welcomed Kate Jefferies, Grant Thornton’s Audit Manager for Plymouth, to her first meeting of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Plan sets out the work that Grant Thornton proposed to undertake in relation to the audit of the 2010/11 accounts at the Council. It was based on their risk-based approach to audit planning and their assessment of the potential business and audit risks that need to be addressed by the audit and the controls the Council had put in place to mitigate those risks.
The Plan also provided details of other areas of work to be undertaken, including –
In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –
The Committee noted the Audit Plan for 2010/11. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SECURITY FORUM PDF 87 KB The Committee will receive for its information a copy of the minutes of the last meeting, together with an update on how information management principles are being embedded throughout the organisation. Minutes: The Committee discussed the merit of taking the item under Part II, to which Councillor Evans objected stating that there may be some elements more suited for consideration in Part II but that did not warrant moving the whole issue. However, in light of the fact that the one Independent Member remaining at meeting had to leave, thus making it inquorate, it was agreed that consideration of the item be deferred to the next meeting. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AUDIT COMMITTEE FORWARD WORK PLAN PDF 64 KB The Committee will consider its work programme for 2010/11. Minutes: The Committee noted its forward work plan. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXEMPT BUSINESS 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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Minutes: There were no items of exempt business.</TRAILER_SECTION> |