Meeting documents
Venue: Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury. View directions
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Note | No. | Item |
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08.30 |
Closed Session with External Auditors Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED Members attended closed session with External Auditors. See agenda item 12. |
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08.45 |
Closed Session with Internal Auditor Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED Members attended closed session with Internal Auditors. See agenda item 12.
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9.00 |
Apologies for Absence / Changes in Membership Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies had been received from Mr P Martin.
The Chairman welcomed Mr J Hollis, Head of Legal and Compliance, who had recently been appointed to replace Mrs L Forsythe who had recently retired.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Forsythe on behalf of the Regulatory and Audit Committee for all the hard work that she had contributed over the years. |
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Declarations of Interest To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2018 to be confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman reviewed the minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2018:
The final action for Ms Edwards was in response to a Member’s question about the increase in operational costs. The main reason for the increase is staffing costs. In summary, this was the full year effect of additional posts created, cover for staff on maternity leave and temporary staff to produce annual benefit statements in accordance with statutory deadlines. This cost was covered by the pension fund itself. Ms Edwards agreed to circulate the full details of this.
ACTION: Ms Edwards RESOLVED The minutes of the meeting were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman |
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09.10 |
Statement of Accounts PDF 276 KB To be presented by Mr R Ambrose, Director of Finance & Procurement. Additional documents:
Minutes: Mr R Ambrose presented a report on the audited Statement of Accounts. Before giving an overview of the report, Mr Ambrose apologised to Members for the late amendments.
ACTION: Mr R Ambrose
ACTION: Chairman
ACTION: Mr Ambrose
ACTION: Ms R Martinig
ACTION: Mr Ambrose
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09.25 |
To be presented by Mr R Ambrose, Director of Finance & Procurement, and Ms J Edwards, Pensions & Investments Manager. Additional documents:
Minutes: Ms J Edwards, Pensions and Investments Manager, presented the Pensions Accounts and gave a verbal overview.
The Chairman thanked Ms Edwards and the representatives from Grant Thornton for their reports. He also thanked them for their 100% attendance at Pension Fund Committee meetings.
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09.40 |
Value For Money Statement PDF 968 KB To be presented by Grant Thornton, the Council’s external auditors. Additional documents: Minutes: Mr P Grady and Mr T Slaughter, External Auditors, Grant Thornton presented their report (including an addendum report).
The following points were noted during discussion and in answer to Members questions:
· The Chairman noted that he had in previous years made representations that in view of improved performance in the Children’s Service, the qualified VFM statement may not have been appropriate. However whilst there had been evidence of improvement, Children’s Services remained in special measures despite significant additional spending. Therefore this year the Chairman accepted the VFM qualification and would make no representations to change it.
The Chairman thanked the External Auditors for their reports and for their collaborative and effective professional relationship with the County Council.
RESOLVED Members AGREED to endorse the Statement of Accounts, Pensions Accounts and letters of representation subject to the amendments discussed; and that the Chairman and Section 151 Officer sign these off accordingly. |
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09.55 |
Annual Governance Statement PDF 276 KB To be presented by Ms M Gibb, Head Business Assurance and Chief Internal Auditor Additional documents: Minutes: Mr R Ambrose, Director of Finance and Procurement, presented his report and the Annual Governance Statement.
The following points were noted during discussion and in answer to Members’ questions:
RESOLVED The Committee AGREED to recommend the Annual Governance Statement to the Chief Executive and the Leader
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10:10 |
Head of Audit Annual Opinion PDF 182 KB To be presented by Ms M Gibb, Head Business Assurance and Chief Internal Auditor
Additional documents:
Minutes: Ms M Gibb, Head Business Assurance (& CIA), presented her report to the Committee.
The following points were noted during discussion and in answer to Members’ questions:
ACTION: Ms Gibb
ACTION: Ms Gibb |
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10.25 |
2018/19 Draft Business Assurance Strategy PDF 274 KB To be presented by Ms M Gibb, Head Business Assurance and Chief Internal Auditor Additional documents: Minutes: Ms M Gibb, Head Business Assurance (& CIA), presented her report to the Committee and gave a verbal overview.
The following points were noted during discussion and in answer to Members’ questions:
The Chairman thanked Ms Gibb for her report.
RESOLVED Members NOTED the report.
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Additional documents: Minutes: Ms Gibb provided an overview of the forward plan.
It was agreed that Members would continue the private meeting with the External Auditors; and meet with the Chief Internal Auditor, at a later date.
ACTION: Committee Support
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Date and Time of Next Meeting 12 September 2018, 09.00am, Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury Additional documents: Minutes: 12 September 2018, 9.00am, Mezz 1 |