Agenda and minutes
PDF 197 KBVenue: Committee Room - Woodhatch Place. View directions
Contact: Cheryl Hardman Email: cherylh@surreycc.gov.uk
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: There were no apologies for absence, although Tim Hall and Saj Hussain were late to the meeting. |
|
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 28 May 2015
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting.
Minutes: The Minutes were APPROVED as an accurate record of the meeting. |
|
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were none. |
|
|
QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (21 July 2015). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (20 July 2015). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.
Minutes: There were none. |
|
|
RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER
To review the Committee’s recommendations tracker. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer Sue Lewry-Jones, Chief Internal Officer
SajHussain joined the meeting at 10.01am.
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. In relation to A49/14 (Teacher’s Pension Return), the Deputy Chief Finance Officer informed the committee that he had received a response from the Teachers’ Pensions Agency, which queried which year was affected. He had written to request clarification as the issue affected all years. The committee requested that the Deputy Chief Finance Officer write again during the current week. 2. In relation to A12/15 (SE Business Services), the committee agreed to consider the issue of appointing a finance officer as director of SE Business Services at the September or December meeting of the committee.
Tim Hall joined the meeting at 10.05am.
3. In relation to A18/15 (SEND strategy), the Chairman informed the committee that an officer had been seconded to lead on the development of the SEND Strategy. The redrafted Strategy would be shared with the Education and Skills Board on 17 September 2015. A member of Audit & Governance Committee also sits on that Board and can report back to the committee’s meeting on 28 September 2015. 4. In relation to A20/15 (Adult Social Care record keeping), a letter from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Independence was tabled and is attached as Annex A to the Minutes. The committee queried the comments about data protection as Business Services has experience of dealing with personal data. Members were also unsure whether the Cabinet Member agreed in principle with the recommended move of record keeping to Business Services. The Chairman agreed to discuss the matter further with the Cabinet Member and report back to the committee. 5. In relation to A21/15 (foster care audit), the Chief Internal Auditor informed the committee that the audit was underway and the findings may be ready for the September meeting of the committee. 6. In relation to A22/15 (Kier MG discounts), the Chief Internal Auditor clarified that Maximo was the IT system used to record jobs run by Kier. It had an interface with SAP. The Chairman asked for an update on whether the final balance for 2014/15 was settled in the July batch payment to Kier and what the final figures were. Members considered whether other contracts with discounts built in or performance-related contracts are adequately monitored. The Chief Internal Auditor reminded Members that services should be monitoring their contracts and be aware of what provisions are written in.
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the committee NOTES the report.
Committee next steps: None. |
|
To inform the Committee of the result of the external audit of the council’s 2014/15 Statement of Accounts, to receive the external auditor’s Audit Findings Report and to approve the council’s letter of representation from the Director of Finance.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer Jonathan Evans, Principal Accountant – Financial Accounting
Andy Mack, Engagement Lead (Grant Thornton) Kathryn Sharp, Senior Manager (Grant Thornton) Thomas Ball, Manager (Grant Thornton) Matt Dean, Audit Manager (Grant Thornton)
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Principal Accountant introduced the report and highlighted the amendments made to the Accounts since the draft accounts were produced and presented to external audit in May 2015. These related to a collection fund adjustment and schools accounting. 2. It was confirmed that delays to collection fund figures being provided to the county council were due to just three borough/district councils: Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, and Surrey Heath Borough Council. Officers confirmed that they had informed accounting staff in the borough and district councils of the relevant deadlines and had agreed a later deadline in response to requests by the councils. The issue of deadlines was also raised at the Surrey Treasurers meeting. It was suggested and agreed that the Chairman should write to the Leader and Chief Executive, copying in the Audit Committee Chairman, of each of the three local authorities, stressing the importance of meeting the deadlines on provision collection fund figures (Recommendations tracker ref: A28/15). 3. The committee was informed that officers were seeking legal advice with regard to accounting for foundation schools. Grant Thornton representatives confirmed that they were comfortable with how the Council had dealt with this issue. They would be surprised if the legal advice went against the Council’s interpretation. Resolution was being pursued as high priority as there could be implications for budget planning and the council tax precept for 2016/17. 4. Regarding the Value for Money opinion, the Chairman queried the meaning of the qualification on an ‘except for’ basis. The Engagement Lead for Grant Thornton explained that the audit had to pay regard to the Ofsted review. The opinion is likely to be that the council has put in place proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness ‘except for’ this one area. However, the findings were now being dealt with. Members queried why audit processes hadn’t picked up the issues in Children’s Service. The Chief Internal Auditor highlighted that the Children’s Safeguarding Quality Assurance Process audit had found that significant improvement was needed. She also informed the committee that Internal Audit was involved in quality assurance during the improvement programme for Children’s Service. 5. The Principal Accountant introduced a schedule of changes, addressing amendments requested by external audit. This is attached as Annex B to the Minutes. 6. The Engagement Lead for Grant Thornton expressed thanks to the officer team from Finance for their support during the audit of the council’s accounts. He highlighted the short timescale within which the accounts have been completed and pointed out that, as in two years the statutory deadline for publication of the audited accounts would be July, the council may wish to consider how it can further shorten the ... view the full minutes text for item 55/15 |
|
This report presents the audited financial statements of the Pension Fund for the year ended 31 March 2015, in light of the County Council’s obligations as the administering authority under the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations.
The external auditor (Grant Thornton) expects to issue an unqualified opinion on the accounts and this is outlined in the Audit Findings for Surrey Pension Fund Report.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Phil Triggs, Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury
Andy Mack, Engagement Lead (Grant Thornton) Kathryn Sharp, Senior Manager (Grant Thornton) Thomas Ball, Manager (Grant Thornton) Matt Dean, Audit Manager (Grant Thornton)
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury introduced the report, taking responsibility for the late and incomplete submission of parts of the draft Pension Fund Financial Statements. He clarified that the negative figures regarding foreign exchange contracts on the Net Asset Statement was not an indication of poor performance. 2. Responding to a question about likely trend for collapsing corporate bonds, the Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury informed the committee that the Surrey Pension Fund Committee had agreed to replace investment grade investment credits with a multi-asset credit portfolio and had appointed an investment manager for this mandate. He assured the committee that officers actively monitor trends and interest rates. 3. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury informed the committee that the Surrey Pension Fund Committee had commissioned a deep dive review of the cost of running the pension fund and would be reporting back to that committee in September. 4. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury explained that the issue with the Magistrates Court Service was still subject to receipt of various sum instalments, with actuaries appointed for both the Pension Fund and the Magistrates Court Services. 5. The Grant Thornton Audit Manager informed the committee that while there had initially been a few issues with the audit process, this improved as the audit progressed. An additional fee had been proposed because of the delays in submission of information. Once the Pension Fund Annual Report was submitted, the audit could be signed off. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury confirmed that this was being worked on and would be published soon.
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the Committee: i. APPROVES the 2014/15 Pension Fund Financial Statements; ii. NOTES the amendments made to the Pension Fund financial statements; iii. NOTES the contents of the Audit Findings for Surrey Pension Fund Report; iv. Agrees not to refer any issues in relation to the auditor’s conclusions and recommendations to Cabinet; v. NOTES the content of the draft representation letter and AUTHORISES the Director of Finance to sign it on the authority’s behalf.
Committee next steps: None.
|
|
|
2015/16 EXTERNAL AUDIT FEE LETTER
This report provides the Audit & Governance Committee with details of the planned fee for the 2015/16 external audit of the Council. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Andy Mack, Engagement Lead (Grant Thornton) Kathryn Sharp, Senior Manager (Grant Thornton) Thomas Ball, Manager (Grant Thornton) Matt Dean, Audit Manager (Grant Thornton)
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Engagement Lead for Grant Thornton introduced the planned fee for the 2015/16 external audit of the Council. The reduction in the fees was highlighted
Action/Further information to note: None
RESOLVED: That the Committee NOTES the contents of the 2015/16 External Audit Fee Letter.
Committee next steps: None.
|
|
|
TREASURY MANAGEMENT OUTTURN REPORT 2014/15
This report summarises the council’s treasury management activity during 2014/15, as required to ensure compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice for Treasury Management. The report also covers the council’s Prudential Indicators for 2014/15, in accordance with the requirements of the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: Phil Triggs, Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury introduced the report, explaining the treatment of funds held on behalf of schools and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey. 2. In response to a question about the long term borrowing maturity profile, the Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury confirmed that there was the discretion to reschedule debt with the Public Works Loan Board. The Chairman supported the approach, stating that forward borrowing is a key tool in the treasury toolbox. 3. The committee was informed that a tendering process was underway for the Treasury Management Advisor. The company that wins the tender will provide training to the committee later in the year. 4. The committee discussed the risk that the treasury management strategy is too conservative. The Strategic Manager – Pension Fund and Treasury informed the committee that over the past twelve months there has been a change in the appetite for risk among treasury managers. This would be considered when drafting the Treasury Management Strategy for 2016/17. 5. It confirmed that borrowing cannot be used to cover any shortfall from cuts to budgets. Local authorities can only borrow for long-term capital financing and to cover short-term cash-flow requirements.
Action/Further information to note: None.
RESOLVED: That the Committee: i. NOTES the content of the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2014/15; and ii. ADOPTS the revised Treasury Management Risk Register.
Committee next steps: None.
The committee adjourned from 11.35am to 11.50am for a short break. |
|
|
ANNUAL REPORT OF SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL
To formally consider the Annual Report for the authority.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses: David Hodge, Leader of the Council David McNulty, Chief Executive Verity Royle, Senior Principal Accountant
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive introduced the report. The Senior Principal Accountant was thanked for her work on developing the Annual Report to make it more engaging to customers. 2. In response to a query about the comparison with Luxembourg, the Chief Executive informed the committee that it was broadly comparable and useful for indicating the size of the county. He also clarified that local businesses were those with their head quarters in Surrey. 3. The Leader informed the committee that the Annual report was a useful document to share with businesses. It also available in libraries and the Tax Payers Alliance had taken a close interest. 4. The committee asked why the secondary school bulge was only mentioned in passing in the report. The Chief Executive explained that work on the secondary school bulge would start to increase over the next year and would be featured more strongly in next year’s Annual Report. 5. Members queried whether the figures of families involved in the Family Support Programme add up. The Chief Executive explained that in practice more families need to be engaged with through targeted whole family intervention to achieve the target numbers of families “turned around”. 6. Members highlighted issues such as: children being transported long distances to schools because they haven’t got into the local school; highways concerns; and people being moved out of hospitals before they are ready. The Chief Executive responded that: additional school places had been provided but oversubscription to certain schools affect the number of first preferences which can be met; there had been improvements in the highways service but the service was vulnerable to external factors such as poor weather; and the council was working better with health partners. It is often in the interests of the patient to leave the hospital quickly with support from adult social care to ensure that they retain their independence. 7. In response to a query about Blue Badges, the Leader explained that new badges may continue to take six weeks to be produced as documentation needed to be collected and reviewed. However, replacement Blue Badges would take less time. 8. A Member expressed the view that the Children’s Service’s Ofsted finding should have been more explicitly addressed. This could have been used to highlight social care as a key priority with the public. The Chief Executive responded that Children’s Service was addressed in the Annual Report. 9. The Chairman highlighted the discussions that had taken place on airport expansion and queried why this wasn’t included in the Annual Report. The Leader confirmed that Council had a clear policy on airport expansion, welcoming it so long as infrastructure improvements are made. However, the Government had only recently made its announcement on airport expansion and so next year’s Annual Report would set out what the ... view the full minutes text for item 59/15 |
|
|
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Audit & Governance Committee will be on 28 September 2015. Minutes: The date of the next meeting was noted. |