Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Wednesday, 23rd June, 2010 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
154 Apologies and substitutions.
 An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs Carr (substitute Councillor Mrs Evans).
155 Declarations of interest.
 None
156 Statutory Statement of Accounts 2009/10
Business for item 156
Resolved:-

That the Statement of Accounts 2009/10, be adopted.

(Action - Head of Finance and Resources)
157 Debt Recovery and Debt Write Off
Business for item 157
Resolved:-

1. That the report be noted.

2. That the Corporate Director Support Services be requested to prepare a further report for presentation to a future meeting of the Committee, including the procedures and processes for collecting debt and the threshold limits for debt write-offs.
158 Implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards
Business for item 158
Resolved:-

1. That the plan for the implementation of IFRS and the likely areas of significant impact, be noted.

2. That the Corporate Director Support Services be asked to convey to the relevant Portfolio Holder and the Chief Executive, the Committee's view that the Council would have difficulty in re-stating the accounts to IFRS given the costs involved and the financial constraints faced by the authority and that representations should be made to the LGA seeking the cancellation or deferment of the new system.
159 Risk Management Policy Statement, Strategy and Framework 2010/11
Business for item 159
Resolved:-

That the submitted Risk Management Policy Statement, Strategy and Framework 2010/11 be approved.
160 Policy and Procedures for Undertaking Covert Surveillance and the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources
Business for item 160
Resolved:-

That the current policies and procedures, be noted.
161 Members' Travel and Subsistence Expense Claims
Business for item 161
Resolved:-

That the report be accepted.
162 Departure of Head of Finance and Resources
The Members of the Committee expressed their thanks to Martin Hone for his sterling work in his capacity as Head of Finance and Resources and wished him well in his new employment.
6.30pm/8.25pm

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr B T Kelly (Chairman), Cllr C W Walker, Cllr Mrs M A Betson, Cllr Mrs M F Evans, Cllr P M Collins, Cllr S G George, Cllr J L Lamb, Cllr R A Woodley,
In attendance:
Councillors Assenheim and Terry
M Hone, S Holland, I Ambrose, M Albano, J Arnold, C Gamble, R Sayer, L Everard and A Barnes (PKF)

Business

ItemBusiness
156The Committee received a report by the Corporate Director Support Services presenting the Statement of Accounts 2009/10.

On consideration of the report, the Head of Finance and Resources undertook to write to all Members of the Committee advising them of the cost of housing benefit administration.

157The Committee received a report by the Corporate Director Support Services informing Members of the process and procedure involved when collecting debt and writing off uncollectable debt.
158The Committee received a report by the Corporate Director Support Services informing Members of the preparation plans in place to deliver the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in time for the 2010/11 Statement of Accounts.

On consideration of the report, Members expressed concern about the financial implications to the Council of implementing IFRS and they considered that representations on the matter should be made to the Local Government Association (LGA).

159The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting the refreshed Risk Management Policy Statement, Strategy and Framework 2010/11.
160The Committee received the Policy and Procedures for undertaking covert surveillance and the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources.

The Corporate Director Support Services also advised the Committee that the new Government is to remove responsibility for undertaking RIPA investigations from Local Authorities.
161The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting an Audit Report on Members' Travel and Subsistence Expense Claims.

The report set out the background to the audit review and the issues that had been identified together with the action plan that had been prepared. Members noted the actions that had been implemented in response to the findings of the review, including the production of revised guidance on the claiming of expenses, which had been circulated to all Members of the Council.

Members noted that a meeting of the external Joint Independent Remuneration Panel would be held on 30th June 2010 to consider the expenses element of the Members' Allowances Scheme, together with the specific matters which had been raised at the February and April meetings of the Council.

 

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