Agenda and minutes

Apologies from Councillor D Galton were noted. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 14th November, 2022 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

Matters arising:

Item 17 – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny – Governance Review Report –  Richard Ivory, Service Director, Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer reported that due to this busy period in the municipal calendar it was important to obtain external resources to help with the implementation of Review and that the LGA had approved 8 extra days.  Members could now expect to see a detailed Action Plan over the coming weeks.   

Item 18 – Annual Review of the Health and Social Care Contracts managed by the Integrated Commissioning Unit.  Councillor White expressed his concern at having to wait for a response as he had still not received information requested with regards to Northlands House and Oak Lodge. 

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 14^th November 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of Chief Internal Auditor detailing the Audit Progress Report 2022-23.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Internal Auditor detailing the Audit Progress Report 2022-23.

In particular, the Committee discussed the removal of the Direct Payments Audit – delayed to 2023-24.  It was noted that the service had not implemented the detail to be monitored by Audit.  Without anything to monitor this action had been withdrawn to enable Children Services to implement recommendations in the new financial year when the Audit would be resumed.

RESOLVED that the Governance Committee notes the Internal Audit Progress report for the period 27th October 2022 to 24th January 2023.

Report of the Executive Director for Finance, Commercialisation & S151 officer seeking approval of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Limits 2023/24 to 2026/27.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Finance and Commercialisation (S151 Officer) seeking approval of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Limits 2023/24 to 2026/27.

The Committee noted that the report highlighted the increasingly difficult economic climate being operated in, with record high levels of inflation and rising interest rates.  In addition, the Committee noted that ethical policies of investments were not taken into consideration it was about the Government market and where those investments were.

RESOLVED: to

(i)  approve the Council’s Treasury Management (TM) Strategy and Indicators for 2023/24 to 2026/27, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii)  note that at the time of writing this report it had been assumed that the budget proposals within the Medium Term Financial Strategy, Budget and Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2026/27 report, to be submitted to Council on the 22 February 2023, would be approved.  Should the recommendations change and have any impact on the Prudential Indicators this would be reported to Council on 22 February 2023;

(iii)  the Executive Director Finance and Commercialisation (EDFC) to report any amendments and in year revisions to the TM Strategy as part of quarterly financial and performance monitoring; and

(iv)  endorse the proposal to continue to explore an alternative Treasury Strategy to generate additional income that can support local services, whilst maintaining a prudent approach.

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 exempt appendix to the following Item.

Appendix 2 ‘Summary - Strategic Risks’ is not for publication by virtue of category 5 paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules as set out in Council’s Constitution. The information is exempt from publication as it includes information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

The Chair moved 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 exempt appendix to the following Item.

Appendix 2 ‘Summary - Strategic Risks’ is not for publication by virtue of category 5 paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules as set out in Council’s Constitution. The information is exempt from publication as it includes information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

The Committee considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change detailing the Annual Risk Management Report 2022. 

The Committee discussed the report in confidential session.

RESOLVED  to review and comment on the Annual Risk Management Report 2022 (Appendix 1) and to note the ‘Summary - Strategic Risks’ (Appendix 2).