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Apologies had been received from Cllr Murphy and Cllr Wiles was substitute.

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 25^th July 2022 were agreed as a true record.

Mrs Van Mellaerts gave an update on the closing of the 2020/2021 Accounts.  These have not yet been signed or an opinion issued.  This is due to the lack of capacity at Ernest & Young (EY) to deliver a quality audit.  There have been no material uncertainty elements identified.  The Council’s partner at EY, Nigel Harris, has since moved to another role and the new partner, Elizabeth Jackson, is now undertaking the audit.  A revised timeline has been agreed and an Opinion to be issued by the end of November.  Officers, in consultation with the Chair and Leader, will be writing a letter of complaint to EY stressing our dissatisfaction with the process.

With regards outstanding actions in relation to the s106 audit, Mrs Van Mellaerts advised she had updated Members via email. 

Mrs Van Mellaerts also advised she was leading on recommendations from the 106 report and she would liaise with housing officers, and the interim Housing Director, and update Members at the next meeting on issues arising from that report.

This report was intended to inform the Audit and Scrutiny Committee of progress made against the 2022/23 internal audit plan. It summarises the work internal audit have done, together with their assessment of the systems reviewed and the recommendations they have raised.  No reports had been finalised since the last Committee.

Mrs Combrinck summarised the report.

A partnership checklist was requested by Members which Mr Summers advised would be updated and circulated to Members.

Members noted the report.

This report covers the Internal Audit Plan for 2022/23, included in Appendix A.

Due to an error, the report and agenda failed to publish.  This item will be placed before Members at the next meeting.   However, Appendix A, Internal Audit Plan 2022/23 was presented to Members as an “Information Only” item and duly noted.

This report submitted the report and recommendations of the Formal Complaints and Performance Indicators Working Group for consideration by the Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

Addendums 3A,3B,4A and 4B, omitted from the Agenda, is appended to the Minutes.

Mr Summers summarised the report and advised that the housing structure has changed to reflect an additional housing maintenance manager, raising the total to 3 housing maintenance managers, focussing on repairs and maintenance.  Also, pertaining to missed bins, the Director Marcus Hotten in attendance at the Working Group, will be reviewing the work involved in the performance in this particular area.

Mrs Van Mellaerts advised Members she had raised queries in relation to the Revenues and Benefits Performance Indicators which had dropped in the first quarter.  This was in relation to the Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme, and resources being diverted to focus on that scheme.  There has now been an increase and expected turnaround has resumed.

Following discussion, a motion was MOVED by Cllr Tanner and SECONDED

by Cllr Hirst to approve the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED:

To note the Formal Complaints and Performance Indicators

Working Group report, as attached at Appendix A, and agree the

recommendations contained within it.

Reasons for Recommendation

To ensure the Council provides quality customer services.

At the Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 5^th July 2022, Councillor Cloke put forward for consideration the following: 

“Formation, make up and running of working groups. The membership of these groups does not seem to be assigned consistently or according to Widdecombe principles and I wonder if a standard approach should be applied. The work planned and completed by these groups is also opaque at best. My primary concern is the constitution working group but a review of the overall approach and other working groups would be of benefit”. 

This was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY and now forms part of the Scrutiny Work Programme and subject to this report.

Mr Summers summarised the report.

The system currently applied allows for flexibility, expertise and experience of members to join the member working groups from all political parties.

Following discussion a motion was MOVED by Cllr Tanner and SECONDED

by Cllr Hirst to approve the recommendations in the report.

Cllr Fulcher MOVED that the recommendation be changed to read:

That the Committee agrees arrangements for Member Working Groups

as set out in the Council’s Constitution. 

This was agreed by the Chair.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED

UNANIMOUSLY:

That the Committee agrees arrangements for Member Working Groups

as set out in the Council’s Constitution. 

Reasons for Recommendation

The Constitution requires that the Audit & Scrutiny Committee considers matters agreed on its Scrutiny work programme.

The Constitution requires that the Audit & Scrutiny Committee agrees its Scrutiny work programme at each meeting of the Committee. This report provided an update of the current scrutiny work programme and is set out in Appendix A.

Following discussion a motion was MOVED by Cllr Tanner and SECONDED

by Cllr Hirst to approve the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED

UNANIMOUSLY to:

That the Committee considers and agrees the 2022/23 Scrutiny work

programme as set out in Appendix A with any additions agreed by the

committee at the meeting.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Constitution requires that the Audit & Scrutiny Committee agrees its Scrutiny work programme at each meeting of the Committee.

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

                                                            The meeting concluded at 19:40