Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M W Winstanley (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs K Aldred
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor R Brierley
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion)
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor E Russon
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Mr T Addison (Independent Member)
- Mr W Anderton (Independent Member)
1 Welcome to new Members: On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillors R Brierley, J D O’Brien, Mrs J Prescott and E Russon, new Members of the Committee.
2 Apologies for absence: Councillor E N Houlton and Mr P Connor (Independent Member).
3 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 23 April 2008 were approved as a correct record.
4 Exclusion of the public - Section 100A Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Committee discusses the following items for the reasons set out below:-
| Agenda Item no. |
Title of report |
Minute No. |
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 |
| E1 |
Human resources information quarter 4 |
11 |
2 (Information which might reveal the identity of a person) |
| E2 |
Quarterly review of sickness quarter 4 |
12 |
2 (Information which might reveal the identity of a person) |
| E3 |
Human resources delegations quarter 4 |
13 |
2 (Information which might reveal the identity of a person) |
5 Audit Commission – audit and inspection plan 2008/09: The Committee considered a report that advised members of the proposed work and fees of the Audit Commission for 2008/09.
Members asked questions to which the Council’s appointed Auditor and Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
6 Internal Audit annual report 2007/08: The Committee considered a report that enabled a review of the systems of Internal Audit as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations. Members were provided with details of Internal Audit reviews performed in 2007/08, information in respect of the coverage and performance of the Internal Audit Service and assurance opinions on the effectiveness of the Internal Audit Service and the Council’s internal control environment.
Members asked questions to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
7 Internal Audit annual review of local code of corporate governance: The Committee considered a report that evaluated the adequacy of application of the Council’s local code of corporate governance as per the CIPFA/SOLACE framework.
Members asked questions to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
8 Departmental performance: The Committee considered a report that updated Members on the department’s performance in collecting council tax and national non-domestic rates, benefit payments and collection of income in 2007/08.
The report updated Members on the progress of the use of bailiffs and new initiatives to trace debtors and verify entitlement to single person discount.
Members asked questions to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
9 Annual governance statement (formerly Statement on internal control): The Committee considered a report that sought approval of the Authority’s annual governance statement for the year ended 31 March 2008.
Members asked questions to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing appointed by the Council).
10 Corporate procurement strategy: The Committee considered a report on the adoption of the updated version of the corporate procurement strategy for the Council, that set out the overall principles and key objectives and subsequent developments around procurement and related matters.
Members asked questions to which the Head of Corporate Procurement responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
The Executive Director – Business Support Services advised Members that the information given to the Committee in relation to the following items was given in confidence and that due to the confidential nature of the information they were under an obligation not to divulge or share any of that information to any other person which may prejudice or jeopardise the decisions and actions taken by the Authority.
11 Human resource information: The Committee considered the following information for Members:-
- recruitment statistics;
- central training statistics;
- early retirement and voluntary redundancy;
- ill health retirement;
- honoraria under £5,000 pa and honoraria over £5,000 pa; and
- suspensions.
Members asked questions to which the Service Director - Customer Services, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
12 Quarterly review of sickness - quarter 4: The Committee considered a report showing the summary and submissions from departments for sickness absence management for the period 1 January – 31 March 2008.
Members asked questions to which the Service Director - Customer Services, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillors P Prescott and Mrs J Prescott declared a prejudicial interest in this item because of their daughter’s employment in Human Resources, Environmental Services and left the meeting during the discussion thereon).
13 Human resource delegations - quarter 4: The Committee considered a report to establish 14 posts and disestablish 2 posts.
Members asked questions to which the Service Director – Customer Services, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
