Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES

The Council commissioned the Local Government Association to provide peer support in relation to the impact and effectiveness of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. The peer support process took place during 2022 and was a combination of a desktop review, watching meeting videos and talking to relevant Members and Officers. A report was provided to the Council in January 2023 with their findings and recommendations. This report considers the recommendations in relation to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Finance, Audit and Risk Committee comment on the draft Action Plan, and refer it to Cabinet to be approved.

REASONS FOR REFERRAL: To ensure that the Council responds to the matters identified within the peer support report, ensuring that the benefits of that process are realised.

Audio recording – 1 hour 17 minutes 40 seconds

The Service Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘LGA Review Action Plan’ and highlighted:

·       This was a follow up review from the Peer Review and focused on the effectiveness of the O&S and FAR Committees.

·       Paragraph 8.1 of the report highlighted the Action Plan to be considered by Cabinet, including target completion dates and current progress.

·       The recommendation for the Service Director – Resources to draft wording for the Chair to read at each meeting has not happened for this meeting and would commence in September.

·       The training stated in the Action Plan is for Members and to promote the role of the Committee.

·       The recommendation to transfer the finance elements of FAR over to O&S was not being taken forward. This was because O&S was developing and FAR was benefitting from the expertise and knowledge of the current Committee and Independent Person. However, it could be revisited in the next civic year.

·       The Service Director - Resources would contact Committee Services to confirm that every Member of the Committee can easily access information about the Committee meeting.

In response to a point of clarification from Councillor Tasmin Thomas, the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager stated that the information as to how the LGA Peer Review was shared with Councillors would be sent at a later date.

Councillor Terry Hone proposed, and Councillor Mandi Tandi seconded, and following a vote, it was:

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET: That Finance, Audit and Risk Committee recommend to Cabinet that they note the comments of FAR and approve the draft Action Plan.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To ensure that the Council responds to the matters identified within the peer support report, ensuring that the benefits of that process are realised.