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 21 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Local Government Ombudsman has made a finding of injustice in respect of a property being offered a potential tenant, that was later withdrawn as it did not suit their medical needs.

The Committee noted the Monitoring Officer’s report.

The Housing Ombudsman has made a finding of a service failure in respect of significant delays in damp repairs being undertaken.

The Committee noted the Monitoring Officer’s report.

To approve the letter of representation and the Statement of Accounts for the 2019/20 financial year and to receive the Audit Completion Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 from the Council’s external auditors following their work on the 2019/20 accounts.

The letter of representation, audit completion report and statement of accounts are circulated separately with this agenda.

The Committee considered letter of representation and the process for the approval of the Statement of Accounts for the 2019/20 financial year and received an update on the Audit Completion Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 from the Council’s external auditors.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the Statement of Accounts 2019/20 as circulated and the letter of

representation as attached be approved and

(ii) delegation be given to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer along with the Chair of this Committee to approve any further changes required to the Statement of Accounts 2019/20.

To present a revised Annual Governance Statement for consideration and to seek approval for its inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts 2019/20.

The Committee considered the revised Annual Governance Statement.

RESOLVED that the revised draftAnnual Governance Statement in appendix 1 of

the reportbe approved for inclusion in the Council’s Statement ofAccounts2019/20.

To inform the Committee of the recent work completed by Internal Audit.

The Committee were informed of recent work completed by Internal Audit. It was noted that the level of performance in terms of audits completed is below what should have been achieved at this stage.  The main impact has been from the Covid-19 pandemic and the urgency of diverting Internal Audit resources towards supporting other areas.

RESOLVED that revisions to the Internal Audit Plan for 2020/21, as set out in appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

To recommend approval of amendments to the Strategic Risk Register and the action plans identified to mitigate risks.

The Committee considered amendments to the Strategic Risk Register and the action plans identified to mitigate risks.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the Strategic Risk Register and the actions to mitigate risks as set out in appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

To provide members with an update for the Council’s requirement to enhance its complaints procedure, following notification from the Housing Ombudsman.

The Committee were updated on the Council’s requirement to enhance its complaints procedure, following notification from the Housing Ombudsman.

The Housing Ombudsman introduced a new complaint handling Code in July 2020, which was subsequently revised in September 2020. The new Code is a legal requirement for all landlords to adopt following the findings of the Grenfell White Paper report.

RESOLVED that the non-housing related complaints be administered in accordance with the Housing Ombudsman’s Code.

To update the Committee on the review of the arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints.

The Committee were updated on the arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints. It was noted that the review would consult with other district and borough Councils to establish best practice and Members would be consulted.

RESOLVED that that a politically proportionate task and finish group be set up to review the arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct Complaints and that the same task and finish group be set up to review the new National Code of Conduct.

To update the Committee on the review of the Whistleblowing Policy and of the outcome of the recent Internal Audit Report.

The Committee noted the review of the Whistleblowing Policy and the outcome of the recent internal audit report relating to this policy.

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

The Committee consider the Work Programme. It was requested that a report on the audit of business support grants be included at a future meeting.

RESOLVED that, with the addition of an item to consider an audit trail for business support grants, the Work Programme be approved.