Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance).

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposed amendments to the Financial Procedure Rules within the Council’s Constitution following a regular biennial review.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the amendments to the the Constitution as set out in the report relating to the Financial Procedure Rules (Part 1 Article 4; Part 2 Article 4; Part 3, introduction and Appendices 3 and 10; Part 4 PR2 and PR5).

(2) That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Scheme of Delegation and other changes to the Constitution necessitated by the deletion of the post of Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance)

The report sets out proposed revisions to the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules. The report has been considered by the Constitution Working Party and Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive is requested to recommend that the Council Meeting approves the revised Financial Procedure Rules.

Officer Contact: Steve Houston on 0161 474 4000 or email: steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) and Chair of the Constitution Working Party submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider recommendations made by the Constitution Working Party and the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee on proposed changes to the Financial Procedure Rules.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the changes to the Constitution as set out in the report relating to the Financial Procedure Rules (Part 1 Article 4; Part 2 Article 4; Part 3, introduction and Appendices 3 and 10; Part 4 PR2 and PR5).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Monitoring Officer.

The report sets out proposed revisions to the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

The Constitution Working Party at its meeting on 25 November made the following comments:

·         The proposed changes to the Financial Procedure Rules are supported by operational guidance.

·         The proposed changes remove outdated terminology and clear up ambiguity where there was doubt over interpretation.

·         None of the proposed changes were as a direct result of fraud or corruption within the Council.

·         The Financial Procedures Rules had been written in such a way so as to accommodate possible changes to the job titles of senior Council Officers.

·         The Financial Procedural Rules may have to be revisited to accommodate partnership working with the health service, for example changes resulting from a review of the Health and Wellbeing Integrated Commissioning Board.

·         It was confirmed that budget holders were required to ensure that financial records ie documents supporting a payment or an item of income received were retained for six years or the periods specified by statute if longer.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposed changes with a view to the revised Financial Procedure Rules and consequential changes, as set out in the schedules, going forward via the Executive Meeting for adoption by the Council Meeting on 28 January 2016.

Officer Contact: Steve Houston on 0161 474 4000 or email: steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Monitoring Office submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out proposed revisions to the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party at its meeting on 25 November had made the following comments:

·         The proposed changes to the Financial Procedure Rules are supported by operational guidance.

·         The proposed changes remove outdated terminology and clear up ambiguity where there was doubt over interpretation.

·         None of the proposed changes were as a direct result of fraud or corruption within the Council.

·         The Financial Procedures Rules had been written in such a way so as to accommodate possible changes to the job titles of senior Council Officers.

·         The Financial Procedural Rules may have to be revisited to accommodate partnership working with the health service, for example changes resulting from a review of the Health and Wellbeing Integrated Commissioning Board.

·         It was confirmed that budget holders were required to ensure that financial records i.e. documents supporting a payment or an item of income received were retained for six years or the periods specified by statute if longer.

The Executive Councillor (Support and Governance) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be requested to recommend the Council Meeting to approve the changes to the Constitution set out in report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Deputy Chief Executive

The report sets out proposed revisions to the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

The Working Party is requested to comment on the proposed changes with a view to the revised Financial Procedure Rules and consequential changes, as set out in the schedules, going forward via the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee and Executive Meeting for adoption by the Council Meeting on 28 January 2016.

Officer Contact: Steve Houston on 0161 474 4000 or email: steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out proposed revisions to the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules. The report would subsequently be considered by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee at its meeting to be held on 8 December 2015, the Executive Meeting on 5 January 2016 and the Council Meeting on 28 January 2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The proposed changes to the Financial Procedure Rules were supported by operational guidance.

·         The proposed changes removed outdated terminology and cleared up ambiguity where there was doubt over interpretation.

·         None of the proposed changes were as a direct result of fraud or corruption within the Council.

·         The Financial Procedures Rules had been written in such a way so as to accommodate possible changes to the job titles of senior Council Officers.

·         The Financial Procedural Rules may have to be revisited to accommodate partnership working with the health service, for example changes resulting from a review of the Health and Wellbeing Integrated Commissioning Board.

·         It was confirmed that budget holders were required to ensure that financial records, ie documents supporting a payment or an item of income received, were retained for six years or the periods specified by statute if longer.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Working Party be forwarded to the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee for consideration.