Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Members' Conference Room, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN

Contact: Joss Butler  Email: joss.butler@surreycc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1/20

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

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    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Keith Witham and Stephen Cooksey.

    Will Forster acted as a substitute for Stephen Cooksey.

     

2/20

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING - 17 December 2019 pdf icon PDF 77 KB

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    To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting.

    Minutes:

    The Minutes were approved as an accurate record of the previous meeting.

3/20

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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    All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter

    (i)            Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or

    (ii)           Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting

    NOTES:

    ·         Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest

    ·         As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)

    ·         Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

4/20

QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

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    To receive any questions or petitions.

     

    Notes:

    1.  The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (23 January 2020).

    2.  The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (22 January 2020)

    3.  The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

     

    Minutes:

    There were none.

5/20

RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER pdf icon PDF 97 KB

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    To review the Committee’s recommendations tracker.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

    None

     

    Witnesses:

    David John, Audit Manager

    Anna D’Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1.     In regards to Action A2/19, the Audit Manager confirmed that the report was underway and was likely to receive reasonable assurance. It was expected to be circulated in February 2020.

    2.     In regards to Action A11/19, the Director – Corporate Finance confirmed that a report would be considered by the Committee following consideration by the Corporate Leadership Team. The report would consider the risk culture in the Council following a series of interview sessions with relevant Members and Officers. The Chairman highlighted the importance of providing appropriate training on risk.

    3.     In regards to Action A15/19, David Harmer, Edward Hawkins and Peter Szanto confirmed that they had attended Select Committees since the last meeting. In regards to the budget scrutiny process, Members made the following comments:

    ·        Members felt that they had no influence over the Council’s budget due to time constraints.

    ·        Members felt that budgets reports should have been made available earlier to allow for proper consideration.

    ·        It was suggested that the pre-scrutiny period of the Council’s budget should have taking place from at least October 2019.

    ·        A Member of the Committee felt that the process of Select Committee Chairman reporting to Cabinet on their respective Select Committee scrutiny findings was not ideal as it did not allow for enough time for their comments to be fed into the budget proposals.  

    ·        A Member of the Committee stated that the period of time between Cabinet and Council approval of the Budget did now allow for an alternative budget to be created by opposition Members.

    The Chairman of the Committee informed Members that he would write and circulate a summary of how he believed the budget scrutiny process should have been conducted. The Chairman of the Committee also stated that he would discuss his findings with the Chairman of the Budget and Asset Task Group.

    4.     In regards to Action A16/19, The Chairman confirmed that the portfolio holder had provided reassurance that Local and Joint Committees conducted proper risk management.

    5.     The Chairman requested that Action A17/19 remain on the tracker.

     

    Action/Further information to note:

    None.

     

    RESOLVED:

    That the committee noted the report.

     

6/20

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 121 KB

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    This report sets out the Council's Treasury Management Strategy for 2020/21, as required, to ensure compliance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2017 Edition (the CIPFA Code).

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

    Ms Anna D'Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance

    Mark Hak-Sanders, Strategic Capital Accountant

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1.     The Chairman introduced the report and noted that the Committee had received training on the Treasury Management Strategy on 22 January 2020.

    2.     The Director – Corporate Finance provided a brief overview of the Strategy and highlighted that the Council intended to fully utilise the Council’s treasury advisors. Members noted that frequent meetings would take place to monitor the strategy and ensure it would continue to be suitable.

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    None.

     

    Resolved:

     

    The Audit and Governance Committee approved the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) for 2020/21 including the Prudential Indicators.

     

     

7/20

Grant Thornton: 2019/20 External Audit Plan pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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    This report provides the Audit & Governance Committee with the Audit Plan for the external audit of the 2019/20 financial statements of the Council and the Surrey Pension Fund.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

    Tom Beake, Grant Thornton

    Ciaran McLaughlin, Grant Thornton

    Ms Anna D'Alessandro, Director – Corporate Finance

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1.     The representative from Grant Thornton introduced the report and provided a brief summary. Members noted that headline risks were listed on page 45 of the agenda. The representatives highlighted that ‘management override of controls’ was listed in the report as a significant risk but that it was something considered every year. Members also noted that there were additional audit fees due to an increased level of work required by Grant Thornton.

    2.     A Member of the Committee asked why concerns related to the Brightwells Yard development were not included in the report. Representatives from Grant Thornton stated that this was because no significant risks had been identified relating to the developments. The representatives further clarified that the audits focused on whether an appropriate decision making process was followed and whether correct advice was provided. It was advised that the Member discuss their concerns with the relevant Director within the Council. Following on from this, Members highlighted a need to monitor and reappraise investments to ensure that they meet expected outcomes, and to ensure plans are adapted when they meet challenge. The Director – Corporate Finance reassured Members that this was a process that was being discussed with relevant officers and that there was an intention to strengthen the relationship between the Finance Service and the Property Service.

    3.     A Member of the Committee stated that they were concerned that there was no scrutiny of the Council’s property portfolio.

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    None.

     

    Resolved:

     

    The Audit and Governance Committee approved the Audit Plan.

     

     

8/20

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

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    The next meeting of Audit & Governance Committee will be on 24 April 2020.

    Minutes:

    The date of the meeting was noted to be on 24 April 2020.