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 September 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To ask the Committee to recommend to Council the proposed changes to the polling districts and polling places set out in the appendices to the report.

An interim review of polling districts and polling places was carried out between 1 August and 30 September 2022. No responses were received in respect of the proposed changes to polling districts arising out of the Community Governance Review completed earlier in the year.

The polling place for BCT2, Creo, Seven Oaks Crescent, Bramcote, were considered to be too small, with nowhere for voters to shelter if queuing outside in the rain. Whilst this was accepted, there are no other suitable places in the polling district at the present time.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the proposed changes to the polling districts in appendix 1 and the designation of polling places set out in appendix 2 to the report be approved.

To ask the Committee to note the changes to borough ward boundaries which have been approved by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

The Committee noted the changes to borough ward boundaries which have been approved by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

To inform the Committee on the progress of the review of parliamentary constituency boundaries being carried out by the Boundary Commission for England.

The Committee were informed on the progress of the review of parliamentary constituency boundaries being carried out by the Boundary Commission for England.

For Broxtowe, the initial proposals remain unchanged.  However, since the proposals were first put out for consultation, the Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell ward boundary has been revised to align with the new Awsworth Parish boundary.  This is also the parliamentary boundary with the proposed Nottingham North and Kimberley Constituency.

It was recommended, however, that as only 18 electors are affected by the boundary change, a representation be submitted requesting that the parliamentary boundary was changed to align with the new Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell Borough ward boundary to avoid confusion for voters and to avoid any potential errors with splitting the register for the parts of Kimberley and Nuthall East and Strelley wards which have been taken into Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell.

A proposal to express dissatisfaction against the Kimberley Constituency moving into the Nottingham North Constituency be submitted to the Boundary Commission for England was proposed by Councillor P J Owen and seconded by Councillor Mick Brown. A recorded vote was proposed Councillor P J Owen and seconded by Councillor J Owen.

For                           Against                              Abstention

M Brown                  S Dannheimer                    I Tyler      

J M Owen                P Lally                                         

P J Owen                J C Patrick  

B Willimott               H land         

                                R S Robinson                                                           

On being put to the meeting the motion was defeated.

RESOLVED that a suggested representation regarding the proposed boundary between the Broxtowe and Nottingham North and Kimberley Constituencies along the Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell Ward Boundary.

To provide an update on progress with the audit of the Statement of Accounts 2021/22.

The Committee were provided with an update on progress with the audit of the Statement of Accounts 2021/22.

It was noted that Mazars have almost concluded their work on the accounts, although the auditors were not yet in a position to present their Audit Completion Report.

Mazars had not indicated any significant weaknesses in the Council’s arrangements from its audit testing to date that would require it to make a significant recommendation.  The aim remains to achieve a clean and unqualified audit opinion on the 2021/22 accounts. 

RESOLVED:

(i)       to Delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive authority to consider and adopt, if necessary, the anticipated Statutory Instrument in order to apply the statutory override relating to the accounting treatment of infrastructure assets and then to change the Council’s Accounting Policies accordingly to reflect this; and

(ii)    that delegation be given to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Chair of this Committee, to approve any subsequent changes required to the Statement of Accounts 2021/22.

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

The Committee noted the recent work completed by Internal Audit. It was noted that Internal Audit had also reviewed progress made by management in implementing agreed actions within six months of the completion of the respective audits. 

RESOLVED that the revision to the Internal Audit Plan for 2022/23 as proposed in appendix 2 be approved.

To approve the amendments to the Strategic Risk Register and the action plans identified to mitigate risks.

The Committee considered the 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 be approved.

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

The Committee considered the Work Programme.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme be approved.