Meeting documents
1 December 2014
Present:
Councillors Clarance, Channon, B Hughes
Apologies
Councillors Biederman, Edgell, Hannan and Hannon
Also in Attendance
Councillor Hart
*44 Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2014 be signed as a correct record.
*45 Annual Audit Letter 2013/14
(Councillor Hart attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).
The Committee received the Annual Audit Letter of Grant Thornton (CT/14/79 - text only | pdf 
| supplementary information CT/14/79) which had issued an unqualified opinion on the Council s 2013/14 financial statements, an unqualified opinion on the Pension Fund financial statements and a qualified value for money conclusion 2013/14 due to, in Grant Thornton s view, insufficient progress having been made in addressing the issues raised by Ofsted in 2013 relating to children s services.
Grant Thornton reported that separately the Strategic Director of People had provided an update on progress made in relation to the issues raised by Ofsted, including the findings of the recent independent peer review. She acknowledged that good progress had been made over recent months with the introduction of positive initiatives around social worker recruitment and retention, building further resilience in this area for the Council.
*46 External Audit Update
The Committee received the Report of Grant Thornton (CT/14/80 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/14/80) outlining progress made in delivering the responsibilities of the external auditors and giving a summary of relevant emerging national issues and developments, including the impact of the Better Care Fund, in relation to which Grant Thornton had arranged regional seminars in January 2015 for local government and NHS colleagues to explore improving joint working.
Members discussed the challenges around the integration of health and social care in Devon in light of the financial difficulties facing the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, and the levels of health funding provided by central government in Devon.
The following documents produced by Grant Thornton were also referred to:
http://www.grant-thornton.co.uk/Global/Publication_pdf/Pulling-together-the-Better-Care-Fund.pdf
*47 Report of the Corporate Risk Management Group
The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Services for Communities (SC/14/33 - text only | pdf SC/14/33) providing an update on risk management practice in the Council, which saw no significant changes.
It was MOVED by Councillor B Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Channon and
RESOLVED that the effective development and operation of risk management in the Council and the updates to risk registers be noted.
*48 Six Month Internal Audit Report 2014/15
The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/81 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/14/81) providing a six month audit opinion of the Council's Internal Audit Service and progress to date against the internal audit plans for 2014/15. The opinion was that an effective framework of control was in place, providing reasonable assurance regarding the effective, efficient and economic achievement of its objectives.
It was MOVED by Councillor Channon, SECONDED by Councillor B Hughes and
RESOLVED
(a) that the internal audit opinion that the Council s systems contain a satisfactory level of internal control be noted;
(b) that the satisfactory performance and achievements of Devon Audit Partnership during the first six months of 2014/15 be noted;
(c) that the Council s continuing commitment to the maintenance and enhancement of an anti-fraud culture is endorsed.
*49 Future Meetings
Friday 27 March 2015, Tuesday 30 June 2015, Tuesday 15 September 2015, Thursday 19 November 2015 and Wednesday 23 March 2016 at County Hall at 2 pm.
*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT
The meeting started at 2.15 pm and finished at 3.15 pm.
| The Minutes of the Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:- |