Venue: AQUARIUS ROOM, ST IVO LEISURE CENTRE, WESTWOOD ROAD, ST IVES, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, PE27 6WU
Contact: Miss H Ali, Democratic Services Officer, Tel No 01480 388006 / e-mail: Habbiba.Ali@huntsdc.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 10th December 2008. Contact: Miss H Ali 388006 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 10th December 2008 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
|
MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 overleaf. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
|
EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT: USE OF RESOURCES 2007/08 To consider the Huntingdonshire District Council Use of Resources Report for 2008. Minutes: The Panel gave consideration to the Council’s Use of Resources Report 2007/08 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). In introducing the report, Mrs L Sandford, Grant Thornton UK LLP, informed Members that the Council had consistently performed above Audit Commission’s minimum requirements. In noting the content of an action plan designed to assist the Council in achieving compliance with the next higher level within the framework, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the Use of Resources Report 2007/08 be received and noted. |
|
INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE: INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT To consider a report by the Audit and Risk Manager reviewing progress towards the achievement of the annual audit plan and associated performance issues. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the progress made to date in respect of the delivery of the 2008/09 Annual Audit Plan and the performance standards achieved. Members were encouraged to note the achievement made by the Council with regard to the implementation of agreed audit actions which had been delivered on time.
RESOLVED
that the content of the report now submitted be noted. |
|
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SYSTEM OF INTERNAL AUDIT To receive a report by the Audit and Risk Manager detailing the outcome of the annual review of the effectiveness of the system of internal audit. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the outcome of a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal audit. Subject to amendment to topics on which assurance was sought, the Panel
RESOLVED
(a) that the review of the effectiveness of the system of Internal Audit be included in the annual review in preparation of the Annual Governance Statement;
(b) that the Panel note that the next review of the system of Internal Audit against CIPFA’s Code of Audit Practice will be conducted in 2011; and
(c) that the list of topics as amended and set out in the report now submitted be adopted as the minimum criteria for the Assurance Framework. |
|
To receive a report by the Audit and Risk Manager providing an update on the risk register. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: With the aid of a report by the Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with changes made to the Risk Register between the period 1st September 2008 to 28th February 2009 inclusive.
RESOLVED
that the contents of the report be noted. |
|
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK To consider a report by the acting Head of People, Performance and Partnerships providing an update on progress of the implementation of the Assurance Framework. Contact: H Thackray 388035 Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the acting Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) updating the Panel on progress made to date with regards to the implementation of the Assurance Framework, which had been endorsed by the Panel in March 2008. Having been acquainted with details of the sources of assurance, which supported the Council’s governance arrangements, and considered the half yearly review of the Annual Governance Statement Action Plan, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that progress to date in respect of the achievement of the action plan supporting the Annual Governance Statement be noted; and
(b) that the assurance level of individual risks be noted. |
|
REVIEW OF COUNCIL CONSTITUTION To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services “TO FOLLOW” detailing the outcome of a review of the Council’s Constitution. Contact: Ms C Deller 388007 Minutes: With reference to a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel undertook a review of the Council’s Constitution. The Panel were reminded of the procedure for review in which all Members have been offered the opportunity to submit comments individually on the Constitution. Chief Officers and Heads of Service similarly have been requested to highlight issues which had arisen based upon practical experience on the operation of the Constitution. Additionally, it was reported that a further review of the Constitution was being undertaken, concurrently, with the review of the Council’s democratic structure, the findings of which would be considered by a special meeting of the Panel on 16th April 2009.
Having briefly considered a proposal relating to the State of District Address and discussed the rules of debate at Council meetings, the Panel were advised that they would have an opportunity to comment upon these proposals at the April meeting. Additionally, Members attention was drawn to the proposed changes to the Panel’s terms of reference which had arisen as a result of the review to enable thought to be given to the proposals in advance of that meeting.
Subject to an additional amendment to be made to the Code of Procurement (a copy of which is also appended in the Minute Book), the Panel agreed to
RECOMMEND
that the following amendments be made to the Council’s Constitution with effect from 13th May 2009 -
(a) that in Article 1 – The Constitution, the following words be inserted in Section 5 – Huntingdonshire Vision, to replace all of the words in the second paragraph onwards -
“Huntingdonshire is a place where current and future generations have a good quality of life and can:
· make the most of opportunities that come from living in a growing and developing district; · enjoy the benefits of continued economic success; · access suitable homes, jobs, services, shops, culture and leisure opportunities; · realise their full potential; · maintain the special character of our market towns, villages and countryside; and · live in an environment that is safe and protected from the effects of climate change and where valuable natural resources are used wisely.
To support this, the Council will strive to:
· make the most of opportunities that come from growth by promoting the development of a sustainable community; · enable people to realise their full potential and have access to suitable homes, jobs and services; · work towards achieving a balance between social, economic and environmental needs; and · maintain “excellent” standards.”
(b) that in Article 3 – Citizens and the Council,
· the words in Section 1 (d) (iii) be replaced by the words “the District Council about a breach of the Members Code of Conduct rather than the Standards Board for England as formerly; and”; and
· the following paragraph be added to Section 1 (d) – “(iv) the District Council about a breach of their respective Members’ Code of Conduct of any town and ... view the full minutes text for item 41. |
|
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PANEL To note that a special meeting of the Panel is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 16th April 2009 at 6:00pm in the I-Zone Room, Huntingdon Leisure Centre.
The purpose of this meeting would be to consider the outcome of the Structure Review Working Group’s findings, following their review of the Council’s democratic structure. Minutes: Members noted that a special meeting of the Corporate Governance Panel would be held on Thursday, 16th April 2009 to consider the outcome of the Democratic Structure Review Working Group’s findings. |