19 February 2014

Present:

Devon County Council

Councillors Clarance and Clatworthy

Plymouth Council

Councillor Wheeler

Torbay Council

Councillors Tyerman (Chairman) and Stringer

Also in Attendance

Mr P Looby (Torbay Council)

Mr D Northey (Plymouth City Council)

Mrs M Davis (Devon County Council)

Mr R Hutchins (Devon Audit Partnership)

Apologies

Councillor Murphy (Plymouth City Council)

*15 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2013 be signed as a correct record.

*16 Matters of Urgency

(An item taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Chairman had decided that the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency in order that Members may be appraised of progress in plans to bring the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (Devon Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) into the Partnership. Discussions had been progressing well and pending formal approval of the arrangement by the current partner authorities, the arrangements would be in place from 1^st April 2014.

*17 Devon Audit Partnership Monitoring Report 2013/14

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/13 - text only | pdf CT/14/13) updating the Committee on the further three year extension of the Partnership, training and development of the Partnership s staff and Audit Committee Members, accommodation, service delivery and the Partnership s performance.

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership emphasised the importance of strong investment in staff training and development in delivering an efficient and effective audit service, and also responded to Members questions around performance indicators.

It was MOVED by Councillor Tyerman, SECONDED by Councillor Wheeler and

RESOLVED that the current position of the Partnership and associated issues be noted.

*18 Budget Monitoring 2013/14

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/14 - text only | pdf CT/14/14) which at month 9, indicated a small surplus at the end of the year due to additional audit work undertaken for external partners, including new business from the University of Plymouth, but that this had largely been offset by additional staffing costs to complete this work.

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership also clarified that premises costs were higher in 2013/14 than expected, but that a reduction in premises costs would be seen in 2014/15 reflecting recent premises rationalisation.

It was MOVED by Councillor Clatworthy, SECONDED by Councillor Stringer and

RESOLVED that the projected outturn along with variances and reasons be noted.

*19 Budget 2014/15

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/15 - text only | pdf CT/14/15) on the budget position for 2014/15, noting the 10% reduction in income expected from the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Councils would be offset through increased income from external partners.

The budget expenditure for the partnership had been set at 1,381,135 for 2014/15 with an expected surplus of 5,000.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Devon Audit Partnership confirmed that a rise in income was expected from additional audit work undertaken, including work for the University of Plymouth, Devon Cornwall Police and for Academies.

It was MOVED by Councillor Wheeler, SECONDED by Councillor Clatworthy and

RESOLVED

(a) that the proposed budget for 2014/15 be agreed;

(b) that the areas of uncertainty within the budgeted income figures be noted;

(c) that the Head of Devon Audit Partnership and the partner authorities senior management be thanked for their management of the Partnership which had resulted in an audit service and joint working arrangement which was nationally respected, whilst continuing to reduce the cost to the partner authorities.

*20 Development Plan

The Committee received the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/16 - text only | pdf CT/14/16) on the Partnership s development priorities, key changes and challenges, their key priorities development plan and details of completed key priority work.

It was MOVED by Councillor Tyerman, SECONDED by Councillor Wheeler and

RESOLVED

(a) that the current position of the Partnership and associated issues be noted;

(b) that an update report be brought to the Committee meeting in November this year.

*21 Income Expected from External Partners

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership reported a projected income of 226,391 from work undertaken for external partners, an increase of 14,063 on 2012/13 income and includes work undertaken for a new external partner, the University of Plymouth.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Devon Audit Partnership advised the Committee that the Partnership had seen a reduction in income from European Union funded projects due to these projects coming to an end, nonetheless it was likely that the Partnership would have the opportunity to tender for audit work for any similar projects in the future.

It was MOVED by Councillor Tyerman, SECONDED by Councillor Wheeler and

RESOLVED that the expected income for 2013/14 from external partners be noted.

*22 Benefits of External Partnering

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/17 - text only | pdf CT/14/17) outlining the Partnership s framework and achievements to date, its model and charging policy and future investment in staff training and ICT developments resulting from additional income from external partners.

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership emphasised that, reflecting cuts to local authority funding, the focus of the Partnership had changed from service improvement and the sharing of best practice at the inception of the Partnership, to an emphasis on reducing the costs of internal audit for the Partners in more recent years.

It was MOVED by Councillor Tyerman, SECONDED by Councillor Wheeler and

RESOLVED

(a) that the current position and associated issues in relation to external partnering be noted;

(b) that the benefits of providing services to external partners and the contribution towards the development of an efficient and effective audit service as a result, be noted.

*23 Future Meetings

Wednesday 18 June 2014, Wednesday 5 November 2014 and Wednesday 4 March 2014, all in the Committee Suite at County Hall, Exeter.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.30 am and finished at 11.40 am

The Minutes of the Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-