Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Sutton and Councillor Surtees with the substitution of Councillor C Allen authorised in accordance with council procedure rule 10.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Pendlebury and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February                        2023 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

There were no interests declared.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were provided with the annual report incorporating the internal audit opinion covering the work undertaken on the internal audit plan for 2021/22.

In response to a question from members around assurances that the authority was doing everything possible to ensure it was in the most robust position, it was confirmed that management actions were being implemented over the next few months and progress would be reported back to committee.

It was moved by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                        RESOLVED - the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were provided with a summary of the results of the internal audit work carried out on behalf of the Leicestershire Revenues and Benefits Partnership.

All recommendations had been received by management for information in terms of assurances throughout the year.

It was moved by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were provided with a summary of the 2022/23 internal audit plan.

In response to a question from members around the amount of days allocated for this audit, it was confirmed that if additional work was required there was flexibility in the plan and this would be managed accordingly.

It was proposed by Councillor Hollick, seconded by Councillor C Allen, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members received a summary of the commercial asset management internal audit report for 2022/23.

In a response to a question from members around the council being resilient to the commercial environment in terms of the way it managed KPI’s moving forward, it was confirmed that this was covered as part of the audit and debt management had been rated a medium level priority.

Members also questioned the timescales around quarterly checks not being completed until June 2024, it was confirmed that it would take time to introduce the new software and train up the appropriate staff.

It was proposed by Councillor Flemming, seconded by Councillor Williams, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members received a summary of the internal audit work which formed part of the 2021/22 internal audit plan carried out on the carbon neutral action plan.

Responding to a question from members around the bio diversity strategy it was confirmed that staff would be refreshing the climate change strategy to include the bio diversity priorities following on from the emergency declaration that was agreed at council.

Officers confirmed that the climate change work achieved to date was an excellent achievement, included bringing in approximately £4.5m in external funding and was disappointed that the audit didn’t reflect this.

Members thanked the team for this work and officers confirmed that it had been the whole council that had worked on this and it had been a real culture shift through every single service, with people thinking how they could contribute to becoming carbon neutral.

It was confirmed that the audit would be discussed at the next climate change working party.

It was proposed by Cllr Walker, seconded by Councillor Hollick, and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.

Letter from the External Auditor – update from Head of Finance

Members were provided with an update regarding the work of the external auditors.

The report was noted.

To consider the passing of a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the public from the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 10 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act.

On the motion of Councillor Webber-Jones seconded by Councillor Allen, it was

                        RESOLVED – in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local

                        Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the following

                        item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of

                        exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 10 of

                        Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act.

Report of the Internal Auditor

Members were provided with the internal audit report on the cyber security for Leicestershire ICT Partnership for 2022/23.

It was proposed by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Hollick and

                        RESOLVED – the report be noted.