Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M W Winstanley (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs P Cullen
- Councillor Mrs S Dewhurst
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor T W Halliwell
- Councillor J D Hodgkinson
- Councillor E N Houlton
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor Mrs E Smethurst
- Councillor E Russon
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Councillor F B Walker
Independent Members
- Mr T Addison
- Mr P Connor
- Mr R Kidd
- Mr D Lea
- Mr P G Pennington
- Mrs P Wheal
Parish Council Members
- Councillor M J Crosby (Shevington)
- Councillor M A Thomson (Haigh)
Officers in attendance
- Anthony Clarke – Strategic Finance Manager
- Kevin Lawson – Service Director, Borough Solicitor
- Andrew Taylor – Head of Finance
- Nicola Welch – Audit Manager
- Mike Williamson – Committee Services Officer
Officers presenting reports
- Mark Heap – District Auditor, Audit Commission
- Paul McKevitt – Service Director Corporate Services
- David Smith – Executive Director Business Support Services
- Diane Taylor – Business Partner
1 Apologies for absence: Councillors R Brierley, J Miller, P Thompson and R Winkworth.
2 Joint working of the Standards Committee and the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee: The Executive Director of Business Support Services, David Smith, presented a report, which informed Members of the purpose of the joint meeting between the two Committees.
The Committee was advised that the Council’s governance arrangements were highly complex due to the nature of the organisation, the wide range of services and statutory responsibilities and the need to demonstrate sound ethical principles and high levels of public accountability.
The Committee was advised that there were a number of Member groups that had a role in monitoring and supporting the Council’s governance arrangements, particularly:-
- the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee
- the Standards Committee
- the Scrutiny Committees
In developing the Council’s own governance arrangements it was considered useful to form occasional links between the various groups so that there was a greater understanding of the respective roles of each group and evidence of a joined up approach to governance across the Council.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
3 Update on Corporate Area Assessment: The Business Partner, Diane Taylor, updated Members on the Council’s progress against the new Corporate Area Assessment (CAA) which was undertaken by the Audit Commission.
The Committee was advised that the CAA replaced the previous assessment regime known as Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA). The fundamental difference was that the CAA was an ongoing assessment which assessed how the Council, in conjunction with its partners, improved public services for residents of the borough.
The assessment was divided into two areas:-
- Organisational assessment; and
- Area assessment (partnership working).
The Committee was advised that the scoring methods under CAA differed from previous assessments under CPA. There would no longer be star ratings afforded to the Council. Instead the Audit Commission would issue an overall score rating on the Council’s performance ranging between 1 and 4. There was also the possibility of earning green or red flags from the Audit Commission. These flags would exemplify areas in which the Council (along with its partners) were either performing well or areas of concern were performance was below what was expected. Members were advised that the Audit Commission would notify the Council on 19 October 2009 as to which areas had received green or red flags.
Furthermore the Committee was advised that the Audit Commission would be issuing its final view on the Council’s performance in December 2009.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the report.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
4 Audit Commission Annual Governance report and Opinion statement: The Service Director – Corporate Services, Paul McKevitt and the District Auditor, Mark Heap, presented a report, which informed Members on the findings of the Audit Commission from the 2008/09 audit.
The Committee was advised that following the inspection of the Council’s accounts, no material errors were identified during the audit. Minor presentational adjustments had been made to the Statement of Accounts in agreement with the Council’s Auditors, none of which affected the Council’s bottom line.
In addition, recommendations had been received in respect of the Council’s Annual Governance statement.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the report.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- approves the financial statements as detailed in the report now submitted;
- notes the adjustments to the financial statements as detailed in the report now submitted;
- notes the value for money conclusion and Use of Resources score;
- approves the letter of representation on behalf of the Council; and
- agrees the response to the proposed action plan as detailed in the report now submitted
(Councillor E N Houlton declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is employed as a civil servant by the Department of Works and Pensions).
(Councillor B J Fagan declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as his son and daughter are employed within the Council’s Business Support Services Department).
