A.10/21
The Committee
considered a report that presented the draft Statement of Accounts
and draft Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21
In discussion, the
following points were raised:-
(a)
In response to a query on the waste contract, the
Section 151 Officer advised that greater financial information
relating to the contract would be subject to a report to be
presented to the Executive meeting to be held on 16 September
2021;
(b)
For 2020/21, it was noted that the Council’s
Council Tax collection rates were 2% above the national average and
the Business Rates collection rates (91.74%) were slightly lower
than the national average (93%). It was
confirmed that this was consistent with the results that were
experienced by other Local Authorities across Devon. Given the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the
Committee felt that the collection figures were to the great credit
of both local residents and local businesses. However, Members did also request that officers
consider whether this matter should be included within the
Council’s Risk Register;
(c)
The Committee was advised that the findings of the
most recent Staff Survey would be shared with all Members via a
future Bulletin edition. In recognition
of the importance of staff morale, the Committee also highlighted
the reference in the draft Annual Governance Statement to the fact
that the annual staff awards event had not been held recently due
to the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a
consequence, an additional recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:
‘That, given that a staff awards event had not been held
since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Committee RECOMMEND that the Senior Leadership Team organise and plan
an event to highlight the important role that officers have played
in supporting our communities throughout the Pandemic; with the
event being ideally held before Christmas and with elected Member
input into the event.’
In
discussion, support was expressed for the additional
recommendation. However, a Member did
make the point that the prizes associated with the event needed to
be considered meaningful;
In
concluding the debate, the Chairman felt that both the draft
Statement of Accounts and the draft Annual Governance Statement had
excellently summarised what had been an extraordinary year and the
contents of both draft documents were commendable.
It was
then:
RESOLVED
1.
That the Draft Statement of Accounts and the Draft
Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for the financial year ended 31
March 2021 be noted; and
2.
That, given that a staff awards event had not been
held since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Committee RECOMMEND that the Senior Leadership Team organise and plan
an event to highlight the important role that officers have played
in supporting our communities throughout the Pandemic; with the
event being ideally held before Christmas and with elected Member
input into the event.