Agenda and minutes
PDF 95 KBVenue: Council Chamber - Trinity Road
Contact: Democratic Services
Media
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies To receive any apologies from members. The quorum for Audit and Governance is 3 Members. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Helene Mansilla and Chris Twells, and John Chessire, an independent member of the Committee.
|
|
|
Substitute Members To note details of any substitution arrangements in place for the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no substitute members. |
|
|
Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
|
|
Election of Vice Chair Purpose The Committee is invited to elect a Vice-Chair for the remainder of the 2023-24 Council year, following the resignation of the previous Vice-Chair. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the item was to elect a Vice Chair following the resignation of the incumbent.
Due to a high level of apologies received at the meeting, and a vacancy on the Committee, the Chair proposed deferring the item until after the by-election, which was agreed by the Committee. |
|
|
Appointment to the Standards Hearings Sub-Committee Purpose For the Committee to appoint one Liberal Democrat Member to the Standards Hearings Sub-Committee following the resignation of Clare Muir as a Councillor. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair stated that Clare Muir, who had recently resigned as a Councillor, was one of the members appointed onto the sub-committee. Due to political balance requirements, the former Councillor Muir had been a Liberal Democrat appointee so the Chair sought opinion from the Liberal Democrat group as to their replacement. The Deputy Leader of the Council stated that the Liberal Democrats proposed Councillor Helene Mansilla.
Councillor Coleman proposed the appointment and Councillor Robbins seconded. This was agreed by the Committee by general assent without a vote.
RESOLVED: To appoint Councillor Helene Mansilla to the Standard Hearings Sub-Committee. |
|
|
To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 October 2023. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes were discussed, and the following amendments were made:
The Cabinet member for Climate Change would be invited to the next meeting as per prior discussion at the previous meeting.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2023 as an accurate record.
|
|
|
Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions or supplementary questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate issues under the Committee’s remit. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no public questions. |
|
|
Member Questions To deal with written questions by Members, relating to issues under the Committee’s remit, with the maximum length of oral supplementary questions at Committee being no longer than one minute. Responses to any supplementary questions will be dealt with in writing following the meeting Additional documents: Minutes: There were no member questions. |
|
|
Corporate Risk Register Purpose The report brings to members the current version of the Strategic Risk Register for information and assurance that risks to the Council are being managed and appropriate actions are being taken to mitigate risk.
Recommendation That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to: 1. Note the Strategic Risk Register.
Invited Cheryl Sloan, Business Manager for Business Continuity, Governance and Risk Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced the item, stating that looking at the risk register was a constitutional function of the Committee.
The purpose of the report was to bring to members the current version of the Strategic Risk Register for information and assurance that risks to the Council were being managed and appropriate actions were being taken to mitigate risk.
Members noted an error in the paper's heading, which referred to Cotswold District Council's corporate governance code. The officer acknowledged this and explained it was a copy-paste of a previous report.
The Chair invited the Business Manager for Business Continuity, Governance and Risk to introduce the report. The Business Manager highlighted the changes since the previous report;
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: to NOTE the Strategic Risk Register. |
|
|
Treasury Management Mid-Year Report Purpose To receive and discuss details of the Council's Treasury Management performance for the period 01 April to 30 September 2023 and Quarter 2 Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.
Recommendation That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to: 1. Recommend to Council to approve the Council’s Treasury Management performance for the period 01 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 and Quarter 2 Prudential Indicators.
Invited David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the item was to receive and discuss details of the Council's Treasury Management performance for the period 01 April to 30 September 2023 and Quarter 2 Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.
The Chair invited the Deputy Chief Executive to provide an overview of the report.
The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the report highlighted treasury management performance, compliance with prudential indicators, and the impact of interest rate changes, which had been positive due to a low amount of interest rates.
Members discussed the report, and asked questions on the following, which the Deputy Chief Executive provided information on:
RESOLVED: To RECOMMEND to Council to approve the Council’s Treasury Management performance for the period 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 and Quarter 2 Prudential Indicators.
Voting record – for 4, against 0, abstention
|
|
|
Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Update Report Purpose To provide the Committee with assurance over the counter fraud activities of the Council. Direct updates will continue to be provided twice a year. Work plans are presented to the Committee detailing progress and results for consideration and comment as the body charged with governance in this area.
Recommendation That the Committee considers the report and work plan at Annex A.
Invited Emma Cathcart, Head of Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit. Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Service for the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) introduced the item highlighting the work of the multi-agency approach to fraud or MAAF Group to combat online scams. They also highlighted ongoing work relating to business grant debt collection and the transfer of debt liability to the Department of Business and Trade where appropriate. They also updated the Committee in relation to work relating to National Fraud Initiative matches. They also touched on regulatory enforcement activities and outcomes.
Members discussed the report, and stated it was a testament to the fact that the Council takes tackling fraud seriously. Members discussed the following points;
RESOLVED: To NOTE the report and work plan. |
|
|
Purpose To present the Audit and Governance Committee with an updated Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Penalty and Prosecution Policy for comment.
Recommendation That the Committee: Considers the Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Penalty and Prosecution Policy to comment thereon to Cabinet, to aid its deliberations and decision making.
Invited Emma Cathcart, Head of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Service for the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) introduced the item.
The Purpose was to present the Committee with an updated Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Penalty and Prosecution Policy for comment.
The Head of Services for the CFEU stated that it had been updated to ensure uniformity across the CFEU Partner Councils as this area of work is undertaken across all six Councils by the CFEU.
The only significant policy change was that relating to the value of the Housing Benefit required before a Civil Penalty can be applied. It has been increased to £500 from £250.
Members asked questions on the report. The Head of the CFEU mentioned that there if there were attempts to commit fraud, a Caution was not offered, instead a Criminal Penalty could be applied however where is it was clearly a deliberate or repeated attempt, the perpetrator could be prosecuted.
Councillor Coleman proposed the recommendation as set out in the report, and Councillor Wilkins seconded.
RESOLVED: To recommend the policy to Cabinet for approval.
Voting record For- 4, Against 0, Abstentions 0 |
|
|
Update on Member Training and Induction Purpose To update the Committee on member training courses undertaken, including attendance figures and feedback.
Recommendation That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to: 1. Note the report and the attendance summary at Annex A.
Invited Angela Claridge, Director of Governance and Development Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director of Governance and Development introduced the report, which was reported in relation to Committee’s role to improve and enforce member standards of conduct.
Following the adoption of the Gloucestershire Code of Conduct, the Committee had requested a report highlighting member training.
Members discussed the report and raised the following points
RESOLVED: To NOTE the report. |
|
|
Audit and Governance Committee Work Plan Purpose For the Committee to review its work plan.
Recommendation That the Audit and Governance Committee resolves to: 1. Note the work plan. Additional documents: Minutes: The Deputy Chief Executive stated that a work plan for the new municipal year after May 2024 would be brought forward sometime in the new year.
It was noted that meeting start times had been moved to 4pm. |