Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no interests declared at this meeting. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Special Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 20 January 2021.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit & Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee held on 20 January 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee welcomed Mike Norman (Mazars) to the meeting to receive an update on the Audit Progress and Technical Report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager presented a report which outlined progress made by the Internal Audit Consortium in respect of the 2020/21 Internal Audit Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Information, Engagement and Performance Manager presented a report which outlined Quarter 3 outturns for the Council Plan 2019-23 targets.

The Committee enquired about the progress and sought further clarification on a number of Council Plan targets. Those targets included the adoption of a Local Plan (ENV 01), reduction of the annual subsidy of the leisure service (RES 01), and recruitment and enforcement (ENV 04).

Members noted that the Officer would contact the relevant Heads of Service and provide the Committee with further and more detailed updates on the targets in question.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee was presented with a report which updated Members of the current position regarding Risk Management arrangements and the Strategic Risk Register as at January 2021.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Head of Finance and Resources and S151 Officer presented a report which provided the Committee with a summary of the Budget Monitoring for the third quarter of 2020/21 which would be presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 4 March 2021.

Members discussed vacancy savings and its potential effects on service delivery. The Head of Finance and Resources and Section 151 Officer endeavoured to raise this with SAMT as an observation from the Committee.

The Committee agreed that the variants in the budget could lead to a significant and large accumulative total. Members requested that this be brought to the attention of Cabinet, and that any steer from them be brought back to the Committee for information.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Members were presented with a report which outlined the corporate debt position at 31 December 2020.

The Committee discussed overpaid housing benefit, and the implications that this had on both the individual and the Council. Members agreed to add an additional recommendation to highlight their concern.

RESOLVED – That

1. The report be noted.

2. The Committee receive further information, including action planning, with regard to overpaid housing benefit.

The Head of Finance and Resources and Section 151 Officer presented a report which requested approval by the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee of the accounting policies that it is proposed to adopt for the current financial year in the preparation of the Statement of Accounts 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That the Committee approves the Accounting Policies.

RESOLVED – That the Committee’s Work Programme be noted and approved.

To consider the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions. The most up-to-date

Forward Plan of Executive Decisions can be accessed via the following link:

https://democracy.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=1137&RD=0&bcr=1

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan of Executive Decision be noted.

There were no other items discussed at this meeting of the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee.

The next meeting of the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committtee is scheduled to take place on 28 April 2021.

The next meeting of the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee would take place on Wednesday 28 April 2021 at 3.00 pm.