Venue: THE KESTREL ROOM, HINCHINGBROOKE VISITOR CENTRE, HINCHINGBROOKE PARK, HUNTINGDON
Contact: A Roberts, Democratic Services Officer, Tel No 01480 388009/e-mail: Anthony.Roberts@huntsdc.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 27th July 2005. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 27th July 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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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 below. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
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CODE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE To consider a report by the Internal Audit Manager on the outcome of the second annual review of the Code of Corporate Governance. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Additional documents:
Minutes: With the assistance of a report by the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with the outcome of a review of the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance. Having noted the main areas in which changes had been made and on the understanding that in future the code’s dimensions should incorporate, where appropriate, indicative completion dates for achieving compliance, it was
RESOLVED
that the Code of Corporate Governance appended to the report now submitted be adopted. |
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ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE To consider a report by the Director of Central Services to which is attached the Annual Statement of Assurance. Contact: P Watkins 388002 Additional documents: Minutes: Having considered a report by the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached the Statement of Assurance, summarising the Corporate Governance work carried out in 2004/05 and identifying matters to be addressed during 2005/06, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that the Statement of Assurance on Corporate Governance for 2004/05 be approved; and (b) that the Chairman of the Panel and the Chief Executive be authorised to sign the Statement on behalf of the Council. |
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REVIEW OF OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY A report, which was recently considered at a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels, is enclosed for consideration. Members are invited to consider the recommendations for amendments to the Constitution to change the way Overview and Scrutiny is carried out. Contact: R Reeves 388003 Additional documents:
Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing the findings of a review by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels of the way Overview and Scrutiny was carried out. Members’ attention was drawn to proposed changes to the structure and composition of the Panels and to the contents of an action plan for the future development of the Overview and Scrutiny function.
Members discussed the terms of reference for the Panels suggested under the new structure, the potential difficulties associated with achieving political balance for the suggested Corporate and Strategic Framework Panel and the date on which any new arrangements should be introduced. With regard to the latter, the view was expressed that it would be preferable for the changes to come into effect at the start of the next Municipal Year. In addition, the Panel requested that the proposals be circulated to all Members prior to the report being submitted to the Council in December. Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Council be recommended to
(a) establish a Corporate and Strategic Framework Overview and Scrutiny Panel, to be balanced politically as far as is practical with the terms of reference set out in the report now submitted; and (b) appoint an additional three Members to each of the Service Delivery and Service Support Panels and to approve the consequential amendments to the Constitution to implement the aforementioned measures. |