Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Councillor Noon declared a personal interest in item 6 on the agenda and withdrew from the meeting.    

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2018 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 10^th September 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Director Legal and Governance detailing the Southampton City Council Complaints Review 2017/18, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Legal and Governance detailing the City Council’s Annual Complaints Review for 2017/2018.  The report summarised the type and number of complaints received from the 1^st April 2017 – 31^st March 2018 together with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review for the same period.  Overall complaints registered with the Council had decreased by 16%.  

Report of the Director of Quality and Integration outlining the major contracts managed by the Integrated Commissioning Unit on behalf of Southampton City Council, and detailing current arrangements for monitoring these contracts, including mechanisms for assurance of quality, performance, and governance, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Quality and Integration detailing Health and Social Care Contracts managed by the Integrated Commissioning Unit and the arrangements for monitoring them and the mechanisms for assurance of quality, performance and governance.

NB: Councillor Noon withdrew from the meeting and took not part in the discussion.

Report of the Director Finance and Commercialisation providing an overview of the Treasury Management (TM) activities and performance for 2018/19 against the approved Prudential Indicators for External Debt and Treasury Management.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance and Commercialisation (Section 151 Officer) detailing the review of Prudential Limits and Treasury Management Midyear Review 2018/19.

In particular the Committee noted that since the last update there had been 2 key issues which now included the requirement to report on non-treasury investments and the HRA borrowing cap had been removed on 29^th October 2018.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the current and forecast position with regards to these indicators be noted and any changes approved;

(ii)  That the continued proactive approach to treasury management had led to reductions in borrowing costs and safeguarded investment income during the year be noted;

(iii)  That the cost implications of the capital programme on the Council as detailed in table 4 of the report which had been taken into account in the revenue budget be noted; and

(iv)  That the recommendation to Full Council to continue to delegate authority to the S151 Officer to make any future changes which benefitted the authority and to report back at the February 2019 Governance Committee be endorsed.

Report of the Director for Finance and Commercialisation detailing the Council's Strategic Risks for 2018-19, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Finance and Commercialisation detailing the process in place in respect of the identification, management and review of the Council’s Strategic Risks.

The Committee particularly noted that two new risks had been added in respect of “failure to improve air quality to legal levels by 2020” and “Service areas fail to adhere to and comply on a consistent basis with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules”.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Finance and Commercialisation detailing the Programme and Projects Overview.  The Committee noted that this was the first time this overview had been presented to the Committee and requested that it became a quarterly monitoring report going forward.

Report of the Director of Finance and Commercialisation providing an update on the Value For Money (VFM) conclusion and recommendations reported to Governance Committee in July 2018 as part of the Annual Audit Report for the 2017/18 Financial Statements, specifically relating to procurement and contracting policies, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Finance and Commercialisation providing an update on the value for money audit conclusion – financial statements 2017/18.  The Committee noted that since the observations associated with the audit had been made there had been substantial progress made in completing a comprehensive action plan.

Report of the Chief Internal Auditor providing an update on progress against the Annual Audit Plan, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Internal Auditor providing an Internal Audit Progress Report for the period 1^st September - 29^th October 2018.  

The Committee particularly noted that “Limited Assurance” had been provided for “Expenses, Travel and Subsistence” and “Agency/Temps”.  

Report of the External Auditor detailing the Annual Audit Letter for the year ending 31^st March 2018, attached.

The Committee received and noted the report of the External Auditor detailing the Annual Audit Letter 2017-18 in accordance with the National Audit Office’s Code of Audit Practice.