Venue: Teams
Contact: Email: Democratic.Services@swdevon.gov.uk
Items
No. |
Item |
*AC 19 |
Items Requiring Urgent Attention
To consider those
items which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered
by the Meeting as matters of urgency (if any).
Minutes:
*AC
19
There were no items requiring urgent attention
raised by the Chairman.
|
*AC 20 |
Confirmation of Minutes PDF 203 KB
Meeting held on 13 October 2020
Minutes:
*AC 20
The Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on
13 October 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.
|
*AC 21 |
Grant Thornton - Annual Audit Letter PDF 306 KB
Minutes:
*AC
21
The External Auditor took
Members through the Annual Audit Letter.
In response to Member questions, he stated
that the PSAA fee was in its second year of contract. The Audit fee
had been too low for a number of years and with regulators
expecting increasing workload the fee had subsequently gone up.
Covid-19 had also impacted, with a 15% increase. Fee increases
would be discussed next year. PSAA was advising on the base rate at
£33,335 for the scale fee. An extra £1,500 accounted
for work around pensions and £1,500 on property plant &
equipment work.
It was noted that Mr Steve Johnson (Grant
Thornton Audit Manager) had retired after 34 years of work. The
Chairman asked to send him the thanks and appreciation of the whole
Committee, who wished him well for his retirement.
It was then RESOLVED that:
The Grant Thornton Annual Audit Letter be
noted.
|
*AC 22 |
Treasury Management Mid-Year Review PDF 1 MB
Minutes:
*AC
22
Cllr Edmonds introduced the report to the
Committee. The S151 Officer confirmed that daily monitoring took
place in regard to getting the best investments.
It was then RESOLVED that:
The Treasury Management Mid-Year Review report
be endorsed.
|
*AC 23 |
Update on Progress on the 2020-21 Internal Audit Plan PDF 1 MB
Minutes:
*AC
23
Cllr Edmonds introduced Members to the
progress report on the 2020-21 Internal Audit Plan. The Internal
Audit Manager explained the impact of Covid-19 on the Internal
Audit Plan. In response to Member questions, the Internal Audit
Manager stated that expertise was occasionally needed to bring
contractors to task as currently it was left to individual
departments to monitor. Checks on new staff joining and those
leaving the employ of the Council and the need for more controls
with regard to agency staff was also raised.
It was RESOLVED that:
The Update on Progress on the 2020-21 Internal
Audit Plan be noted and approved.
|
*AC 24 |
Sundry Debt PDF 533 KB
Minutes:
*AC
24
Cllr Edmonds introduced the report. In
response to Member questions, the Section 151 Officer explained
that high debts were assessed on a case by case basis. The
Write-off of debts over £5,000 were presented to the Hub
Committee for approval, whereas those under £5,000 were
approved by the S151 Officer under delegated authority. It was
requested that the officer in charge of reviewing Housing Benefit
Overpayments be invited to the next Audit Committee meeting to give
Members a better understanding of the process.
A Member asked for further information on
three debts that were over£10,000 and the S151 Officer
undertook to provide a written response on this to Members after
this Audit Committee meeting.
It was RESOLVED that:
The latest position regarding Sundry Debts be
noted.
|
*AC 25 |
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Update PDF 454 KB
PART TWO – ITEMS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN
THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ON THE GROUNDS THAT EXEMPT
INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED (if any).
The Committee is recommended to pass the following
resolution:
“RESOLVED that
under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the
public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that exempt
information may be disclosed as defined in the paragraph given
below in bold type from Part I of Schedule 12(A) to the
Act.”
This document can be made
available in large print, Braille, tape format, other languages or
alternative format upon request. Please
contact the Committee section on 01822 813662 or
email darryl.white@swdevon.gov.uk
Additional documents:
Minutes:
*AC
25
Cllr Edmonds presented the report to Members
and there were no Member questions or issues raised.
It was then RESOLVED that the
Committee:
1.
Welcome the report of the Investigatory Power Commissioners Office
(Appendix A); and
2.
Acknowledge that there had been no RIPA Authorisations since the
last report had been presented to Members (2018).
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