18 June 2014

Present:

Devon County Council

Councillors Clatworthy and Edgell

Plymouth Council

Councillor Wheeler

Torbay Council

Councillor Tyerman

Office of the Police Crime Commissioner

Mr S Haworth

Also in Attendance

Mr P Looby (Torbay Council)

Mr R Hutchins (Devon Audit Partnership)

Mr D Curnow (Devon Audit Partnership)

Apologies

Councillor Murphy (Plymouth City Council)

*24 Election of Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Wheeler be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*25 Election of Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Clatworthy be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*26 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*27 Update on Devon Audit Partnership Extension and Deed of Variation

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/42 - text only | pdf CT/14/42) covering the extension of the Partnership Agreement for another three years and the inclusion of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner as a co-opted non-voting member of the Partnership.

Subsequently the Chairman welcomed to the Committee Mr Haworth of the Police Crime Commissioner s Office.

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

RESOLVED that the extension of the Partnership Agreement for a further three years and the update to the Partnership Agreement permitting other public sector bodies to join be noted.

*28 Devon Audit Partnership Annual Report

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/43 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/14/43) outlining key events over the last year, along with the performance of the Partnership and highlighted that a small surplus had been achieved.

In response to Members questions the Head of Devon Audit Partnership confirmed that:

the Partnership s day rate was in the lower quartile of the CIPFA benchmark, but that rates differed depending on the complexity of works, among other factors;

delays in the issuing of reports was being addressed;

the percentage completion of audit plans was often affected by ad hoc fraud and irregularity work;

in future the Partnership would consider changes to the way that some services were delivered, including recharging clients for fraud investigation work rather than planning for an annual allocation for this.

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

RESOLVED that the Devon Audit Partnership Annual Report be noted.

*29 Devon Audit Partnership Financial Outturn Report

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/44 - text only | pdf CT/14/44) which identified a small financial surplus at year end and gave details of under and over spend.

In response to Members questions the Head of Devon Audit Partnership confirmed that:

transport costs were slightly higher than budgeted due to an influx of late travel claims at the end of the financial year;

the proposed budget for 2014/15 was based on carrying out audit work that was known to the Partnership, and it was likely that income and in turn associated costs such as transport, would increase beyond these figures.

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

RESOLVED that the Devon Audit Partnership Financial Outturn Report for 2013/14 be noted.

*30 Devon Audit Partnership Small Bodies Return

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/14/45 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/14/45) and Small Bodies Return.

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

RESOLVED that the Small Bodies Return be noted and that the Chairman be authorised to sign the return.

*31 Future Meetings

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

The meeting started at 10.30 am and finished at 11.45 am