Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 16^th December 2013 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the confidential appendices to the following Item.

The report is not for publication by virtue of category 5 (legal professional privilege) and category 3 (financial and business affairs of the Authority) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules as contained in the Council’s Constitution. It is not in the public interest to disclose this information because the overriding principle in relation to legal professional privilege favours maintaining openness of communication between lawyer and client as a fundamental principle in relation to the administration of justice. Such communications would only be disclosed in very limited circumstances where a strong argument in favour of release outweighed the primary principle of privilege. The release of such privileged advice would undermine the Council’s ability to take timely and appropriate confidential legal advice in the future. The financial information contained in the report is not in the public interest to disclose as it would prejudice the Council’s ability to meet its statutory duties in relation to Best Value if the information was released into the public domain.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the following item.

The confidential report contains information deemed to be exempt from general publication by virtue of Category 5 of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.   

To consider the report of the Director of People providing a briefing on the investigation into the impact for customers of the past financial assessment practice for non residential care, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of People regarding past practice in assessing contributions for adult social care non residential care.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and a further report be brought to the April meeting which would take into account actions taken in response to the information which had been gathered. However it was noted that a report would be submitted to Council in March or June 2014 and therefore the requirement for a further report at the April Governance meeting may not be required.

To consider the report of the Chief Internal Auditor regarding the External Auditor’s annual report on the Certification of Claims and Returns 2012/13, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Internal Auditor regarding the External Auditor’s annual report on the Certification of Claims and Returns 2012/13. 

To consider the report of the Chief Internal Auditor regarding internal audit progress to the period December 2013, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Internal Auditor regarding internal audit progress to the period December 2013.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance and IT seeking to approve the assurance gathering process to support the development of the 2013-14 Annual Governance Statement and to note the content of the 2012-13 Action Plan – Status Report, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer regarding the Annual Governance Statement 2013-14 and the Action Plan for 2012-13.

RESOLVED that:-

(i)  the assurance gathering process to support the development of the 2013-14 Annual Governance Statement be noted and approved; and

(ii)  the Annual Governance Statement 2012-13 Action Plan be noted.

Report of the Chief Financial Officer regarding the Council’s proposed treasury management strategy for the coming year in relation to the Council’s cash flow, investment and borrowing, and the management of the numerous risks related to this activity, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer regarding treasury management activity and proposals for cash flow, investment and borrowing for the following year.

RESOLVED that:-

(i)  the Treasury Management strategy for 2014/15 as outlined in the report be endorsed;

(ii)  following recommendations in the Capital Update report to Council on 12 February 2014, the possible need to recalculate the Prudential indicators be noted; and

(iii)  following the finalisation of the capital and revenue budgets report due at Council, the possible need to make changes be noted.