Venue: CIVIC SUITE 0.1A, PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARY'S STREET, HUNTINGDON, PE29 3TN
Contact: Miss H Ali, Democratic Services Officer, Tel No 01480 388006/e-mail: Habbiba.Ali@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 28th September 2010. Contact: Mrs C Bulman 388234 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 28th September 2010 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 overleaf. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
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EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT: ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER 2009/10 To consider the Annual Audit Letter for 2009/10. Contact: S Couper 388103 Additional documents: Minutes: (Mrs L Sanford of Grant Thornton UK LLP, the Council’s external auditors, was in attendance for consideration of this item.)
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 the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter for 2009/10. Having acquainted the Panel with the performance of the Council in 2009/10, Members’ attention was drawn to the key areas for action by the Council over the 2010/11 financial year, in respect of which it was noted that work had already started in terms of identifying potential savings and that a report will be considered at the next Council meeting on the reorganisation of its senior management structure.
In noting that the Council’s newly appointed external auditor’s had commenced their duties, the Chairman, on behalf of the Council, thanked Grant Thornton UK LLP for their contributions over the previous 5 years. Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter 2009/10 be received and noted. |
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CALCULATION OF COUNCIL TAX BASE 2011/12 To consider a report by the Head of Customer Services recommending the Council Tax Base for 2011/12. Contact: Mrs J Barber 388105 Minutes: In accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended), the Panel was acquainted with a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out the general principles for the calculation of the tax base, which was based on the number of Band D equivalent properties within the District.
RESOLVED
(a) that the report by the Head of Customer Services regarding the calculation of the District Council’s tax base for the year 2011/12 be approved; and
(b) that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended), the amount calculated by Huntingdonshire District Council as the net tax base for the whole District for the year 2011/12 be 59,460 and shall be as listed below for each Parish of the District:
Abbotsley 245 Abbots Ripton 130 Alconbury 555 Alconbury Weston 276 Alwalton 125 Barham & Woolley 25 Bluntisham 744 Brampton 1805 Brington & Molesworth 140 Broughton 85 Buckden 1160 Buckworth 50 Bury 607 Bythorn & Keyston 142 Catworth 141 Chesterton 58 Colne 350 Conington 73 Covington 41 Denton & Caldecote 25 Diddington 28 Earith 580 Easton 75 Ellington 232 Elton 294 Farcet 580 Fenstanton 1170 Folksworth & Washingley 345 Glatton 134 Godmanchester 2430 Grafham 237 Great & Little Gidding 122 Great Gransden 455 Great Paxton 370 Great Staughton 325 Haddon 25 Hail Weston 240 Hamerton & Steeple Gidding 52 Hemingford Abbots 330 Hemingford Grey 1155 Hilton 450 Holme 238 Holywell-cum-Needingworth 980 Houghton & Wyton 810 Huntingdon 7395 Kimbolton & Stonely 595 Kings Ripton 83 Leighton Bromswold 84 Little Paxton 1280 Morborne 11 Offord Cluny & Offord D’Arcy 505 Old Hurst 96 Old Weston 85 Perry 262 Pidley-cum-Fenton 150 Ramsey 2900 St Ives 5795 St Neots 10565 Sawtry 1730 Sibson-cum-Stibbington 210 Somersham 1385 Southoe & Midloe 160 Spaldwick 230 Stilton 785 Stow Longa 65 The Stukeleys 418 Tilbrook 110 Toseland 37 Upton & Coppingford 85 Upwood & The Raveleys 425 Warboys 1370 Waresley-cum-Tetworth 146 Water Newton 42 Winwick 38 Wistow 215 Woodhurst 152 Woodwalton 85 Wyton-on-the-Hill 415 Yaxley 2975 Yelling __142 59460 |
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ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY To receive a report by the Audit and Risk Manager on the review of the Risk Management Strategy. 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’s attention was drawn to proposed minor textual amendments to the Risk Management Strategy. In noting that the changes proposed intended to provide further clarification to Officers on the options available to manage residual risks identified by the Council, it was
RESOLVED
that the changes proposed in paragraph 1.1 of the report now submitted be endorsed by the Panel. |
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To consider a joint report by the Head of Customer Services and the Audit and Risk Manager summarising the activity of the Benefit Fraud Investigation Team over the 2009/10 financial year and to note the outcome of the annual review on whistleblowing. Contact: Mrs J Barber 388105 D Harwood 388115 Minutes: Consideration was given to a joint report by the Head of Customer Services and Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the activity of the Benefits Fraud Investigation Team over the previous three years and detailing the outcome of the annual review of the Whistleblowing Policy and the type and number of whistleblowing matters reported.
In noting the activity undertaken by the Housing Benefit Fraud Investigation Team over the 2007 to 2010 period, the Panel received details of new work areas undertaken by the Team which included the collection of debts arising from benefit overpayments. In so doing, Members were encouraged to note the successes achieved to date.
With regard to the review of the Whistleblowing Policy and Guidance, the Panel noted that 19 incidents had been received through the various Whistleblowing channels.
RESOLVED
(a) that the work undertaken in respect of benefit fraud be noted; and
(b) that the annual review of the Whistleblowing policy and procedure has been undertaken and that no changes be required to the current policy. |
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REVIEW OF THE ANTI-FRAUD AND CORRUPTION STRATEGY To note the outcome of the annual review of the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: By means of a report by the Audit & Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with the outcome of the annual review of the Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy. In noting that the review had taken into account the implications for the Council of the Bribery Act 2010, the Panel were advised that minor changes to the Strategy, Employees Code of Conduct and Code of Financial Management were required to take into account the provisions of the Act. Given that the alterations to the latter two Codes would require changes to be made to the Council’s Constitution, the proposed amendments will be managed as part of the reviews of the Employees Code of Conduct and of the Council’s Constitution which will be considered by the Panel in the spring cycle of meetings. Having concurred with a suggestion for a review of services likely to be affected by bribery to be undertaken by the Council, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that Heads of Service be requested to review and identify service areas that may be susceptible to bribery and introduce controls to minimise the opportunity for offences;
(b) that the proposed amendments to paragraph 14.8 of the Employees Code of Conduct as highlighted in paragraph 2.7 of the report now submitted be endorsed in principle;
(c) that the proposed amendments to the Code of Financial Management to include details of the maximum limit of £1,000 for the receipt of cash payments be endorsed in principle; and
(d) that the changes proposed to the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy as highlighted in Annex A to the report now submitted be endorsed. |