Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2018 were confirmed and signed.

The Council's external auditors KPMG will present the annual audit letter for 2016/17 to the Committee.  The letter is circulated separately with this agenda.

The Committee received the Annual Audit Letter for 2016/17 from KPMG, who were present at the meeting.  It was noted that the accountancy team was due to close the 2017/18 accounts early and it was requested that a record of thanks to officers be made.

An introduction and presentation by the Council’s Interim Monitoring Officer.

The Committee received a presentation from the Monitoring Officer with regard to his role at the Council.  It was noted that one of the Monitoring Officer’s main tasks was to deal with complaints against councillors and deciding whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct.  The role of the Independent Person was also discussed.

To inform the Committee of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and to seek approval for the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts for 2017/18.

The Committee was informed of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and it was asked that approval be given to the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2017/18.

Debate centred on whether whistle-blowers should have the right to know if their information has been received and training for members.  There was then a discussion on the registration of students and whether there was anything to stop them from voting twice.   It was noted that it was almost impossible to police that on the day, but that it was a criminal offence to commit electoral fraud.  There was a request that a report be brought before the Committee to consider electoral security.

The Committee noted that Universal Credit was to be rolled out in Broxtowe shortly and that a training session for councillors would be provided.  Possible dates were discussed. 

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee added an item on electoral security to the Work Programme to be considered at the meeting of 24 September 2018.

          RESOLVED that the Work Programme, with the addition of the item on electoral security, be approved.