12 April 2012
Present:
Devon County Council
Sir Simon Day and Councillor Clatworthy
Plymouth Council
Councillor Mahony (Chairman)
Torbay Council
Councillors Hill and Stringer
Apologies
Councillor Ricketts
*51 Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2012 be signed as a correct record.
*52 Budget for 2012/13 and 2013/14
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership on the Budget for 2012/13 and 2013/14 prepared on the understanding that there would be a 10% per year reduction in income from the three partners. The report also sought formal agreement to a formal extension of the Partnership for two years from April 2012.
Members asked questions in relation to identifying the cost of marketing within the report, the expected surplus and how redundancy payments would be dealt with. The Chairman referred Members to Minute *49(b) from the last meeting which gave officers the authority to decide the preferred option for dealing with redundancy costs subject to Member approval.
It was MOVED by Councillor Mahoney, SECONDED by Sir Simon Day and
RESOLVED
(a) that the extension of the Devon Audit Partnership for 2012/13 and 2013/14 in accordance with the provisions contained within the Partnership Agreement, be formally approved;
(b) that the proposed budget for the Partnership for 2012/13 and 2013/14 be noted.
*53 Internal Audit Plans for 2012/13
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership giving an overview of the total audit resources available to the Partnership and the split of those resources over the Partnership s clients. The Head of Devon Audit Partnership added that in order to be more proactive against fraud he would be using the recent Government guidance and tools issued in the new Fighting Fraud Locally: Local Government Fraud Strategy and Members discussed whether, in the future, it might be possible to subsume the individual authority fraud teams under the Partnership umbrella. Members also suggested that the Partnership might be able to work more closely with those staff undertaking fraud investigation work for Trading Standards.
It was MOVED by Councillor Mahoney, SECONDED by Councillor Hill and
RESOLVED that the Internal Audit Plans for 2012/13 be noted.
*54 Relocation to Larkbeare Costs and Implications
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership on the proposal to move the Head Office and some Exeter based staff to Larkbeare House which was discussed at length at the last meeting. Members discussed the proposed use of parts of Larkbeare House by the Registrar Service staff and as a venue for weddings and noted the County Council s desire to make full use of the site.
It was MOVED by Councillor Clatworthy, SECONDED by Sir Simon Day and
RESOLVED that the Devon Audit Partnership Head Office and some Exeter based staff relocate to Larkbeare House, Exeter, on terms to be agreed in line with the proposals contained in the above report.
*55 Future Marketing and Analysis of Potential New Business
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership on the proposal, considered at the last meeting, for DAP to work with DCC s Communications Team to develop a revised Marketing Strategy to promote DAP services. The report also made an analysis of potential new business and this was set out in table form in Appendix 1A.
It was MOVED by Councillor Mahoney, SECONDED by Councillor Hill and
RESOLVED
(a) that the proposed approach to develop a more professional and proactive marketing strategy for DAP and the analysis of potential new business/markets, be noted;
(b) that an update report be made to the next meeting.
*56 Date of Next Meeting
RESOLVED that the next meeting be held on Wednesday 20 June 2012 at 10.30am at Larkbeare House, Exeter.
*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT
| The Minutes of the Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:- |
The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 12.15pm