Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2015 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor J Goodall and seconded by Councillor S Goodall)

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

There were no declarations of Interest.

The Report of Grant Thornton (External Auditor)

The Annual Audit Letter 2014/15 of Grant Thornton (External Auditor) was considered

The Report of Grant Thornton (External Auditor)

The Report of Grant Thornton (External Auditor) was considered

(Report of the Head of Internal Audit Services)

The Head of Internal Audit Services reported on the outcome of Internal Audit’s review of the internal control, risk management and governance framework in the 3rd quarter of 2015/16 – and provided members with assurance of the ongoing effective operation of an internal audit function and enable any particularly significant issues to be brought to the Committee’s attention.

(Report of the Head of Internal Audit Services)

The Head of Internal Audit Services reported on the Risk Management process and progress to date for the current financial year.

(Report of the Head of Internal Audit Services)

The Head of Internal Audit Services provided Members with an update of Counter Fraud work completed to date during the financial year 2015/16.

(Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer)

The Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer’s report detailing the Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specifies that quarterly reports will be taken to Audit & Governance Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council is complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA.

(Report of the Solicitor to the Council)

The Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer advised Members of the proposed amendments to the Corporate Policy governing the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in light of the new requirements introduced by recent legislative change and Home Office Guidance and seeking their consideration and recommendations in relation thereto.

(Report of the Solicitor to the Council)

The Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer advised Members in relation to recent complaints received which alleged that a breach of the Code of Conduct occurred under the local arrangements that were put in place to deal with Standards allegations, in terms of the Localism Act 2011, by Council on 19 June 2012

A motion was moved to defer consideration of the report until the next meeting of Audit and Governance Committee on 31 March 2016. On a vote being taken 3 members voted for the motion and 4 voted against the motion. The motion was not carried. Councillors J Faulkner and T Peaple dissented.

(Discussion Item)

The Committee reviewed and agreed the timetable