Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee - Thursday, 26th May, 2016 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Committee Administrator, Kathy Flatt  Tel. (01252 398829) or email  kathy.flatt@rushmoor.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 158 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 21st March, 2016 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 21st March, 2016 were approved and signed by the Chairman. 

 

2.

External Auditor pdf icon PDF 28 KB

To receive an update from the Council’s external auditor, Ernst &Young, in respect of the following issues:

 

(1)       Annual Audit and Certification Fee (copy of letter from Ernst & Young attached).

 

(2)       Local Government Audit Committee Briefing (copy of an Ernst & Young briefing paper attached).

 

Mr. Andrew Brittain (Executive Director, Ernst & Young) will be in attendance at the meeting.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. Andrew Brittain, Executive Director of Ernst & Young, the Council’s external auditor.  A copy of Ernst & Young’s letter regarding the Annual Audit and Certification Fees 2016/17 had been circulated to the Committee, together with a copy of the company’s Local Government Audit Committee Briefing.   

 

Mr. Brittain advised the Committee of the audit and certification work that Ernst & Young proposed to undertake for the 2016/17 financial year and that the indicative fee involved would be based on costs incurred during previous years’ audits.

 

RESOLVED:   That the letter from Ernst & Young regarding annual audit and certification fees for the 2016/17 financial year and the company’s Local Government Audit Committee Briefing be noted.

 

3.

Accounting Policies Update for the Year 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1611 (copy attached), which notifies Members of the requirement to adopt the concept of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 13 Fair Value for the measurement of the Council’s assets and liabilities for the year 2015/16.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1611, which notified Members that the adoption of the concept of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 13 Fair Value for the measurement of the Council’s assets and liabilities was a requirement for the year 2015/16.

 

It was noted that the various definitions of “fair value” in earlier accounting standards had been replaced with a uniform one that applied wherever other standards permitted or required fair values to be used or disclosed.   Fair value was defined for 2015/16 as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.   The Committee was advised that IFRS 13 applied to a wide range of assets and liabilities.   The new definition of current value did not specifically apply for property, plant and equipment providing service potential for an authority, and measurement of these assets had not changed from the previous Code.  An exception was made in relation to surplus property assets where the basis of valuation had changed from depreciated historic cost to fair value at highest and best use.  This had resulted in an impact on their individual values at 31st March, 2016, although the overall change on the balance sheet was not material.

 

The Committee was also advised that there had been no significant impact in relation to the introduction of IFRS 13 on the total value of the Council’s investment properties, as these assets had previously been measured at market value.

 

RESOLVED: That approval be given to the approach set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1611, for the amendment to accounting policies in relation to IFRS 13 within the financial statements for 2015/16.

4.

Licensing and General Purposes Committee - Revised Powers and Duties pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To receive the Head of Democratic and Customer Services’ Report No. DCS1603 (copy attached), which sets out the revised powers and duties of the Committee following the amalgamation of the Licensing and General Purposes and Standards and Audit Committees from the start of the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the Head of Democratic and Customer Services’ Report No. DCS1603, which set out the revised powers and duties of the Committee following the amalgamation of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee and the Standards and Audit Committee with effect from the start of the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

 

In addition to increased powers and responsibilities under finance and audit and the monitoring of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, the Committee’s powers now included responsibility for monitoring the operation of the Members’ Code of Conduct and arrangements for dealing with any complaints against councillors in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act, 2011.   A Standards Hearing might be required following an initial assessment of a complaint that a Member of the Council had failed to comply with the Code.  The procedures for a Standards Hearing were being updated to reflect that the membership of any hearing would be drawn from the Licensing and General Purposes Committee. 

 

RESOLVED:   That the Head of Democratic and Customer Services’ Report No. DCS1603 be noted.

 

5.

Determination of Cab-Sharing Arrangements for Farnborough International Airshow 2016 (Post Consultation) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1612 (copy attached), which  seeks Member approval for the implementation of a cab-sharing scheme to run between Farnborough Station and a temporary rank established on Queens Gate Road during the Farnborough International Airshow 2016 (FIA16).

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1612, which sought approval for the implementation of a cab-sharing scheme to run between Farnborough Station and a temporary rank to be established on Queens Gate Road during the Farnborough International Airshow 2016 (FIA16).

 

Following provisional approval in January, 2016, the proposals had been subject to public consultation through local advertisement in the Hampshire Independent, inviting representations between 25th March and 29th April, 2016.  It was noted that no consultation comments or representations had been received in respect of the proposals. 

 

The proposed scheme was relatively simple and straightforward and built upon planned traffic arrangements to accommodate the Airshow.  Similar schemes had been implemented during all previous Airshows since 2004 with notable success. 

 

RESOLVED: That approval be given to the implementation of the proposed cab-share scheme outlined in the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1612.

 

NOTE:  Cr. Sophia Choudhary declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item in respect of the involvement of family in this area of business and, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct,  left the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon.

6.

Appointment of Corporate Director

To note and confirm the action taken by the Appointments Panel in appointing Mrs. Karen Edwards as a Corporate Director from 1st May 2016.  In accordance with the selection arrangements, the Committee and the Cabinet were consulted by letter on 7th April and no objections were raised to the appointment.

Minutes:

The Committee was advised that, following a selection process, the Appointments Panel had appointed Mrs. Karen Edwards as a Corporate Director to take effect from 1st May, 2016. In accordance with the selection arrangements, the Committee and the Cabinet had been consulted by letter on 7th April and no objections had been raised to the appointment.

 

RESOLVED: That the action taken by the Appointments Panel in appointing Mrs. Karen Edwards as a Corporate Director from 1st May, 2016 be noted and confirmed.

 

7.

Appointments pdf icon PDF 257 KB

(1)     Outside Bodies

 

To consider the appointment of representatives to outside bodies.  A list of those bodies on which the Council is represented, which includes details of proposed nominations for 2016/17, is attached.

           

(2)     Appointments and Appeals Panel

 

To confirm the Members of the Appointments and Appeals Panels for the 2016/17 Municipal Year on the basis of four Members (1 Con: 1 Lab: 1 UKIP and a representative of the Cabinet, which would normally be the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services). 

 

(3)     Elections Group

 

To confirm the Members of the Elections Group for the 2016/17 Municipal Year. Previously, the Group consisted of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for electoral services (Concessions and Community Support), the Chairman of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee, the Chairman of the Borough Services Policy and Review Panel and representatives of the other Groups. The Elections Group has been established jointly by the Borough Services Policy and Review Panel and this Committee.

 

(4)     Licensing Sub-Committee

 

To confirm the Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee for the 2016/17 Municipal Year on the basis of five Members (3 Con: 1 Lab: 1 UKIP). 

 

(5)     Licensing Sub-Committee (Alcohol and Entertainments)

 

To confirm that the Head of Democratic and Customer Services is authorised to make appointments from the membership of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee in accordance with the procedure agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 21st May, 2009 and detailed in the Licensing Sub-Committee (Alcohol and Entertainments) Hearings Protocol and Procedure.

 

(6)     Local Plan Members Group

 

To confirm the Members of the Local Plan Members Group for the 2016/17 Municipal Year on the basis of eight Members including the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery, the Chairman of the Development Management Committee and five Members (2 Con: 2 Lab: 1 UKIP).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(1)       Outside Bodies

 

RESOLVED:  That the appointment of representatives to outside bodies for the 2016/17 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix 1 (attached herewith), be approved.

 

(2)       Appointments and Appeals Panel

 

RESOLVED:  That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Appointments and Appeals Panel for the 2016/17 Municipal Year (1 Conservative: 1 Labour: 1 UKIP and a representative of the Cabinet):

 

Conservative Group -

Cr. S.J. Masterson with Cr. A. Jackman as Standing Deputy

 

Labour Group -

Cr. P.F. Rust with Cr. B. Jones as Standing Deputy

 

UKIP Group -

Cr. D.M.T. Bell (Position of Standing Deputy vacant)

 

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services -

Cr. P.G. Taylor

                                                                                   

 

(3)       Elections Group

 

RESOLVED:              That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Elections Group for the 2016/17 Municipal Year:

 

Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support –

 

Cr. G.B. Lyon

Chairman of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee –

 

Cr. A. Jackman 

Chairman of the Borough Services Policy and Review Panel –

 

(Cr. A.R. Newell)

Conservative Group –

 

Cr. S.J. Masterson

Labour Group –

 

Crs. K. Dibble and B. Jones

UKIP Group -

Cr. D.M.T. Bell

 

(4)       Licensing Sub-Committee

 

RESOLVED:  That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Licensing Sub-Committee for the 2016/17 Municipal Year (3 Conservative: 2 Labour: 1 UKIP):

 

Conservative Group -

Crs. Liz Corps, S.J. Masterson and Jacqui Vosper

Labour Group -

Crs. B. Jones and L.A. Taylor

UKIP Group -

Vacancy

 

(5)       Licensing Sub-Committee (Alcohol and Entertainments)

 

RESOLVED:  That:

 

(i)      the Licensing Sub-Committee (Alcohol and Entertainments) be re-established until the first meeting of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee of the 2017/18 Municipal Year, comprising any three trained members of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee; and

 

(ii)       the Head of Democratic and Customer Services be authorised to make appointments to the Licensing Sub-Committee (Alcohol and Entertainments) in accordance with the provisions agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 21st May, 2009.

                       

(6)       Local Plan Members Group

 

RESOLVED:  That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Local Plan Members Group for the Municipal Year 2016/ 17 on the basis of eight Members (5 Conservative: 2 Labour: 1 UKIP):

Leader of the Council -

Cr. D.E. Clifford

Cabinet Member for Environment and Service  Delivery -

 

Cr. M.J. Tennant

Chairman of the Development Management Committee -

 

Cr. B.A. Thomas

Conservative Group -

Crs. R.L.G. Dibbs and A. Jackman

Labour Group -

Crs. A.H. Crawford and C.P. Grattan

UKIP Group -           

Cr. D.M.T. Bell