Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 June 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available the meeting and at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Governance Group.

The report sets out the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2011/12.

The Committee is requested to approved the Annual Governance Statement and refer it to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to be signed.

Officer Contact: Niki Riley Tel 474 4033 email: niki.riley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director, Corporate & Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2011/2012.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whether all elected members had attended the Code of Conduct training?

·         The governance arrangements of the Council’s partners and who held liability in terms of decision making.

·         The effect of the new Performance and Resource Management Framework which had been developed and approved during 2011/12.

RESOLVED – That the Annual Governance Statement be approved and referred to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to be signed off.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

Officer Contact: Steve Houston 474 4000 or email:steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Audit Committee with an opportunity to comment on and approve the 2011/2012 Statement of Accounts. The Corporate Director circulated a few minor amendments to the accounts published in the agenda pack.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Governance and reporting arrangements between the Council and Solutions SK and other companies which the Council had an interest in.

·         The Governance arrangements for Solutions SK had been considered by the Council’s Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee when the company had formed.

·         An explanation was provided in respect to the increase in the Council’s total liability which stood at £205.5m which had increased by 70% when compared to the previous year’s figure of £120.8m.

·         The insuring of heritage assets.

·         Further information was requested in respect to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme.

RESOLVED – That the 2011/2012 Statement of Account be approved.

To consider a report of the External Auditor.

Officer Contact: Tim Watkinson on Tel: 0844 798 7045 or Andrew North on Tel: 07979208036

Tim Watkinson, District Auditor, Audit Commission submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the findings from the 2011/12 audit including key messages arising from the audit of financial statements and work undertaken to assess the Council's arrangements to secure value for money in respect to the use of resources.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Internal Auditor.

The report sets out progress against the agreed Internal Audit Plan 2012/13.

The Committee is requested to note the progress made.

Officer Contact: Niki Riley Tel 474 4033 email: niki.riley@stockport.gov.uk

The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining progress made against the agreed Internal Audit Plan 2012/13.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification and further information was sought in respect to the ad hoc audit work provided in respect to Headteachers external commitments.

·         Councillors sought assurance that key documentation was now in place in respect to the Disability Partnership.

REOSLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Internal Auditor.

The report provides an update following the issue of the Local Government Fraud Strategy, the Audit Commission’s Protecting the Public purse report and a checklist for Members on the Council’s use of the National Fraud Initiative.

The Committee is requested to note the report and approve the action plan.

Officer Contact: Niki Riley Tel 474 4033 or email: niki.riley@stockport.gov.uk

The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update following the issuing of the Local Government Fraud Strategy, the Audit Commission’s Protecting the Public Purse report and a checklist for Members on the Council’s use of the National Fraud Initiative.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the External Auditor.

Officer Contact: Tim Watkinson on Tel: 0844 798 7045 or Andrew North on Tel: 07979208036

Tim Watkinson and Andrew North, Audit Commission, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an update on progress made in delivering the external audit, highlighting key emerging national issues and developments as well as an update on the externalisation of the Audit Practice.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Chair reported that that this would be the last meeting that Tim Watkinson would attend as the Audit Commission’s District Auditor. The Chair thanked Tim for the role he had played in the development of the Audit Committee and for the advice and guidance he had provided to the Chair, Vice Chair and members. The excellent working relationship between Council officers and colleagues in the Audit Commission reflected well on Tim who had set the tone and enabled such a productive way of working to be possible.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Tim and wished him well for the future.