Agenda and minutes

Councillor Arshad Afsar informed the Committee that he had taken advice from the Monitoring Officer and that he did not have to declare an interest in report items 10 and 11.

RESOLVED: The minutes of the meeting held on the 13 July 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Hassan Rohimun introduced the report from Ernst and Young summarising the key findings of their work following completion of the audit procedures for the year ending 31 March 2021.

Members felt that it would have been useful to see past information on audit fees for SCC and  the Pension fund to put audit fee increases into context.  It was reported that this information was available and would be circulated to the Committee for information.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the report be received.

b)    That the Committee be provided with past financial information on the audit fees for both SCC and the pension fund  as discussed at the meeting.

c)    That the Committee be provided with clarification of when the follow-up Ofsted & CQC inspection is scheduled for regarding SEND services.

Report of the Director for Corporate Services

Anne Marie Davidson attended the Committee and presented the report of the Director of Corporate Services.  The current maximum number of questions that could be submitted by Elected Members to the Council meeting, under Standing Order 8, was currently 2 per member per meeting.  It was suggested that the limit be revised to a maximum of 1 question per member per meeting thus enabling more members to ask questions.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the report be received.

b)    That  paragraph 8.3 of Section 12 (Procedural Standing Orders) of the Council’s Constitution be amended to limit the maximum number of questions that may be submitted by a member to one rather than the current two.  The wording of paragraph 8.3 would then read: “Each Member may submit a maximum of one question each, however only the first 15 questions received by the Director for Corporate Services before the deadline will be dealt with at the meeting. All other questions would receive a written answer.

Lisa Andrews presented the Committees Forward Plan.  Members were reminded that the next meeting of the Committee would be on 26 October 2021.  The current list of report items were listed in the report.

RESOLVED:  That the Forward Plan be noted.

The Chairman to move:-

PART TWO

(reports in this section are exempt)

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated.

The Committee proceeded to consider the following items:

RESOLVED: The exempt minutes of the meeting held on the 13 July 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED: 

a)    That the report be received

b)    That progress on the implementation of the audit recommendations be noted and continue to be monitored and an update report on recommendations implemented would be brought back to the  Committee for the February 2022 meeting by the Service.

Special Investigation Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED: 

a)    That the report be received

b)    That progress on the implementation of the audit recommendations be noted and continue to be monitored and reviewed in February 2022 by the Committee.  The service to present a progress report on the implementation of recommendations at the February 2022 committee meeting.

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED: 

a)    That the report be received

b)    That progress on the implementation of the audit recommendations be noted and continue to be monitored and reviewed in February 2022 by the Committee.  The service to present a progress report on the implementation of recommendations at the February 2022 committee meeting..

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED:  That the report be received

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED:  That the progress made against the original audit report and recommendations be noted.

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED:  That the report be received

Final Audit Report (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and the control failings report associated with the significant fraud be presented at the Committee in October 2021.