Agenda for Audit Committee on Tuesday, 24th February, 2009, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 217 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Penny Jennings, Senior Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.
(c) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
Note: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 69a Declarations of Substitutes
69.1 Councillor Mrs A Norman declared that she was substituting for Councillor Smith.
69.2 Councillor Mrs C Theobald declared that she was substituting for Councillor Theobald.
69b Declarations of Interests
69.3 There were none.
69c Exclusion of the Press and Public
69.4 The Committee considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items contained in the agenda, having regard to the nature of the business to be transacted and the nature of the proceedings and the likelihood as to whether, if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of confidential or exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A, part 5, Section100A(4) or 100I(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
69.5 RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 81, Non-Public Minutes of the Previous meeting and item 82, Corporate Risk Management Action Plans Focus as both items were exempt under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting Minutes of the meeting held on I6 December 2008 (copy attached). Minutes: 70.1 RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2008 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. |
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Chairman's Communications Minutes: 71.1 The Chairman informed Committee Members that he had attended a councillors presentation on the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and felt that the same presentation should be made to the Audit Committee at it’s next meeting. He further suggested that the subject was so important an open invitation should be sent to all councillors. |
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Petitions No petitions received by date of publication.
Minutes: 72.1 There were none. |
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 17 February 2009)
No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 73.1 There were none. |
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is12 noon on 17 February 2009)
No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 74.1 There were none. |
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 75.1 There were none. |
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received.
Minutes: 76.1 There were none. |
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Audit Commission Update Report Representatives from the Audit Commission to report (verbal report to the meeting).
Decision: This item was deferred at this meeting. Minutes: 77.1 This item was deferred at this meeting. |
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Targeted Budget Management
Report of the Director of Finance and Resources (copy attached).
Note: The report was considered at the Cabinet meeting held on 12 February 2009 and is before the Committee for information.
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. Minutes: (Councillor Watkins took the Chair for this item only).
78.1 The Assistant Director of Financial Services presented the report on Targeted Budget Management to the Committee and stated that it had been to Cabinet for consideration and would be going to Full Council in due course. He noted that this was an important forecast for this point of the year.
78.2 Councillor Randall asked which capital receipt assets were being marketed and whether Patcham Court Farm was included in this list. The Assistant Director of Financial Services stated that if assets had been identified as not performing well, they would be considered for marketing and resale, and confirmed that Patcham Court Farm could be included.
78.3 The Chairman asked whether a list of those properties being marketed was available for the Committee to view and the Assistant Director of Financial Services agreed that it could be placed on part two of the agenda for a future committee date.
78.4 Councillor Randall noted that the variance for the Housing Revenue Account had arisen several times in the past and asked for an explanation. The Assistant Director of Financial Services stated that he would gather more information on this and update Councillor Randall at a future date.
78.5 RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. |
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Audit And Business Risk Progress Report Report of the Director of Finance and Resources (copy attached).
Decision: RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. Minutes: 79.1 The Head of Audit & Business Risk presented a report on Audit and Business Risk Progress and explained that this was an up-to-date report with an improved position of 41%. He noted that Deloittes were contracted to conduct several audits this year on behalf of the Council. The list of audits contained within the report was explained, and it was noted that there was only one action that was categorised as a high priority.
79.2 The Chairman asked how long it would be until this action was completed and the Head of Audit & Business Risk explained that this would normally be immediately for a high priority action. The medium priority actions would be resolved within six months.
79.3 It was noted by Committee Members that the School’s Financial Management audit had been returned with a high number of medium priority actions and the Head of Audit and Assurance agreed to come back with more information on this.
79.4 Further questions were asked about the use of Deloittes to conduct audit reviews and the Head of Audit & Business Risk explained that there were internal audit vacancies currently being advertised and Deloittes were being contracted to cover the shortfall whilst this process lasted. It was confirmed that the service would remain within budget for this year and that Deloittes would help the service to achieve their targets.
79.5 RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. |
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Risk And Opportunity (ROM) Update Director of Finance & Resources to report (verbal report to the meeting).
Decision: RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. Minutes: 80.1 The Risk and Opportunity Manager presented an oral report on Risk and Opportunity Management to the Committee and stated that a further update would be brought to the committee in June with a refreshed Corporate Risk Register. She noted there had been progress in terms of risk management at the authority and that workshops had been carried out on Building Schools for the Future, which would inform the Council’s bid for up to £200,000,000 of funding.
80.2 RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted. |
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Part Two Minutes - Exempt Category 3 Non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2008 (circulated to Members only). Minutes: 81.1 The Chairman was requested to approve and sign the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2008 as a correct record. |
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Corporate Risk Management Action Plans Focus - Exempt Category 3 Report of the Director of Finance & Resources (circulated to Members only).
Note: The following Corporate Risks will be focused on at the meeting. The relevant officers will be in attendance to give brief presentations and to answer any questions:
CR6, CR7 and CR15.
Minutes: 82.1 The Committee considered a report of the Director of Finance and Resources which was considered under exempt session in accordance with Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1982.
82.2 RESOLVED – that the content of the report is noted and that:
1) A letter is written to the Cabinet Member for Environment. 2) A letter is written to the Cabinet Member for Central Services. 3) A referral is made to the Overview & Scrutiny Commission. |