Agenda item

CM 66                                                                

The Council considered a report that provided Members with the conclusions of the Devon Audit Partnership (DAP) review into the recent Tavistock Hotel Proposal.

As part of his introduction, the DAP Internal Audit Manager wished to thank those Members and officers who had taken part in the review.

In the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:-

(a)   A number of Members wished to put on record their thanks to the Internal Audit Manager for conducting such a thorough and well balanced review and emphasised the importance of the Council taking the consequent recommendations seriously;

(b)   To reflect the conclusions of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting earlier in the day (Minute O&S 108 refers), a recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:-

“That the Council:

1.     accept the conclusions and ten recommendations contained in the Internal Audit Report (published March 2019);

2.    ask officers of the Council, in consultation with lead Hub Committee Members, to prepare an Action Plan and commence implementation of recommendations forthwith and to submit this Plan, together with the progress made to date, at the next Council meeting (to be held on 21 May 2019);

3.    request a meeting of the Political Structures Working Group during April 2019 (i.e. before the local elections on 2 May 2019) to consider in particular the use of unstarred minutes and the relationship between the Hub Committee and the Council and to report to the next Council meeting on 21 May 2019.”

During the debate on the proposal, it became apparent that there was a difference of opinion over the timing of the Political Structures Working Group review and an amendment was therefore PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:-

1.     “That the conclusions and ten recommendations contained in the Internal Audit Report (March 2019) be accepted;

2.     That officers of the Council, in consultation with lead Hub Committee Member, be asked to prepare an Action Plan and commence implementation of the recommendations forthwith and to submit the Plan, together with progress made to date at the Council meeting on 23 July 2019; and

3.     That a meeting be requested (early in the 2019/20 Municipal Year) of the Political Structures Working Group to consider in particular the use of unstarred minutes and the relationship between the Hub Committee and the Council, with a report being presented back to the Council meeting on 23 July 2019.”

In support of the amendment, Members felt it was unrealistic to undertake such an important review before the local elections were held.  In addition, some Members did not feel it to be reasonable to ask the new Council (at its first meeting) to take decisions for which those newly elected Members would have no prior understanding.  In contrast, other Members felt it to be absolutely vital to ensure that the knowledge and experience of all current Members was utilised.

As a compromise, it was suggested that all current Members (who were either retiring or did not retain their seat following the May elections) could provide their views to officers (either in writing or via an Exit Interview) and these would then be taken into account during the Working Group review.

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED and therefore became the substantive motion;

(c)    It was agreed that, once an Action Plan had been drafted, it should be circulated to all Members;

(d)   With regard to ongoing monitoring, officers informed that Commercial Property had been identified by the Audit Committee as a matter that should be included as part of the 2019/20 Internal Audit Plan.

Upon being submitted to the Meeting, it was then declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that:

1.     the conclusions and ten recommendations contained in the Internal Audit Report (March 2019) be accepted;

2.     officers of the Council, in consultation with lead Hub Committee Member, be asked to prepare an Action Plan and commence implementation of the recommendations forthwith and to submit the Plan, together with progress made to date at the Council meeting on 23 July 2019; and

3.     a meeting be requested (early in the 2019/20 Municipal Year) of the Political Structures Working Group to consider in particular the use of unstarred minutes and the relationship between the Hub Committee and the Council, with a report being presented back to the Council meeting on 23 July 2019.”