Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 9^th December 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 9^th December 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

Councillors A Hansard and T V Rogers declared personal interests in respect of Minute No. 09/43 by virtue of their membership of the Cabinet.

To consider a report by the Head of Customer Services detailing the outcome of a review of the existing Housing and Council Tax Benefit Fraud Strategy and Prosecution Policy.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing a review of the Benefit Fraud Strategy and Benefits Prosecution Policy.

In noting the increasing levels of fraud detection activity and the levels of sanction and prosecution undertaken by the Council, including those within the Local Taxation and Housing Departments, attention was drawn to the changes proposed to the Strategy and the Prosecution Policy.

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Strategy set out in Annex A to the report now submitted be approved;

(c)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Prosecution Policy set out in Annex B to the report now submitted be approved; and

(d)  that the Cabinet be recommended to amend the delegated functions to allow the Fraud Team  to undertake investigations in fraud affecting Local Taxation and Housing Services and all other District Council services and to report to the relevant Department on the outcomes, findings and recommendations arising from these investigations.

To receive a presentation from Mr N Smith, Audit Commission on Huntingdonshire District Council’s Organisational Assessment 2008/09.

(Mrs L Sandford of Grant Thornton UK LLP and Mr N Smith from the Audit Commission, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were apprised with the findings of the Audit Commission’s report on the Council’s Organisational Assessment for 2008/09.

In introducing the report, Mr N Smith from the Audit Commission informed Members of the Panel that the Council had performed well overall, improving on a number of areas that matter to local people. In terms of the future, the Panel’s attention has been drawn to those areas which had been identified for improvement. In discussing Huntingdonshire’s performance against other District Councils, Members were advised that whilst performance was compared to the other Cambridgeshire authorities, comparisons were also made against comparable authorities who have similar characteristics to that of Huntingdonshire.

RESOLVED

  that the Organisational Assessment report for 2008/09 be received and noted.

To receive a report from the Audit and Risk Manager on the certification of grant claims 2008/09.

(Mrs L Sandford of Grant Thornton UK LLP and Mr N Smith from the Audit Commission, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing the External Auditor’s certification of specific grants received by the Council in 2008/09. In noting there were no significant issues arising from the report, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Grants Report for 2008/09 be received and noted. 

To receive a report by the Audit and Risk Manager on the National Fraud Initiative.

With the aid of a report by the Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel received background information relating to the National Fraud Initiative and the work undertaken by the Council on the resulting, potentially fraudulent, matches provided by the Audit Commission. Having had their attention drawn to the various data sources required to be submitted to the Audit Commission, Members were apprised with the results of the data matching exercise which indicated that a low number of fraud cases and errors had been identified, which were currently being investigated by the Fraud Team.

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report now submitted be noted.

To receive a report by the Audit and Risk Manager providing an update on the risk register.

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 1^st September 2009 to 28^th February 2010 inclusive. Having requested for specific information on the “very high” residual risks to be included in future reports, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Audit and Risk Manager reviewing progress towards the achievement of the annual audit plan and associated performance issues.

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 2009/10 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. An update on issues previously raised concerning the Code of Procurement and data encryption will be submitted to the Panel at its September 2010 meeting.

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report now submitted be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services proposing changes to the Council’s Constitution in respect of the Code of Financial Management and Code of Procurement.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to proposed changes to the Code of Financial Management and Code of Procurement.

RESOLVED

  that the Council be recommended to approve the revised Code of Financial Management and Code of Procurement as appended to the report now submitted.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships providing an update on progress with the annual governance statement, improvement plan and risk assurance.

Consideration was given to a joint report by the Heads of People, Performance and Partnerships and Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which provided the half yearly review of the Annual Governance Statement Action Plan, together with the Council’s improvement plan, and an overview of the level of assurance provided to the Council for those risks identified within the Risk Register.

RESOLVED

(a)  that progress made to date with regards to the implementation of the action plan arising from the Annual Governance Statement and the Council’s improvement plan be noted; and

(b)  that the level of assurance provided within the Risk Register be noted.

To receive a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the appointment of Cabinet Members.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) consideration was given to a proposal by the Structure Review Working Party to amend the structure of the Council to a form of leadership required by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Whilst the Act requires the Council to implement either an elected mayor or an executive leader model at its annual meeting in May 2011, it is being proposed that interim arrangements should be introduced for the Leader of the Council to be authorised to determine the membership of the Cabinet with effect from May 2010. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Council be recommended to delete the following Council Procedure Rules with effect from the annual meeting of the Council in May 2010:-

  “1.1 (vii)  appoint the Deputy Leader;

1.1 (viii)  agree the number of members to be appointed to the Cabinet and appoint those members to the Cabinet.” 

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic and Central Services proposing a new Member Development Policy.

By means of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were provided with an opportunity to review the content of a draft Member Development Policy. Having been advised that the Policy had already been endorsed by the Member Charter Working Group, and following discussions regarding the financial implications of the proposal upon the Council, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Member Development Policy as set out in Annex A to the report now submitted be approved.