18 March 2015

Present:

Devon County Council

Councillors Clarance and Clatworthy

Plymouth Council

Councillor Wheeler (Chairman)

Torbay Council

Councillor Tyerman

Office of the Police Crime Commissioner

Mr S Haworth

Also in Attendance

Mr R Hutchins (Devon Audit Partnership)

Apologies

Councillor Pountney (Torbay Council)

Councillor Murphy (Plymouth City Council)

*41 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2014 be signed as a correct record.

*42 Devon Audit Partnership Budget Monitoring 2014/15

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/15/28 - text only | pdf CT/15/28) which, at month 10, indicated a potential underspend at the year end due to additional services being provided to some external clients. However this had been partially offset by additional staffing costs required in order to complete this work.

In response to Members questions the Head of Devon Audit Partnership confirmed that this year s trading surplus would be consolidated with the previous surplus, as a contingency or reserve fund. Members acknowledged the Partnership s achievement in continuing to produce a trading surplus year on year.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that a report on the trading surplus achieved by the Partnership since its inception be brought to the next meeting of the Committee;

(b) that a Risk Update report be brought to every meeting of the Committee.

*43 Devon Audit Partnership Budget 2015/16

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/15/29 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/15/29) on the budget position for 2015/16, noting the 10% reduction in the expected level of income from Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Councils. The Head of Devon Audit Partnership confirmed that in real terms the reduction from the three partners would be 7%, after staff pay awards and increments had been taken into account.

An increase in income from external partners would be required to compensate for this loss, which in the current climate of reduced public sector budgets may prove challenging.

Members discussed the impact of schools transferring to academy status on the Partnership s work and potential income.

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

RESOLVED that the proposed budget for 2015/16 be agreed and the areas of uncertainty within the budgeted income figures be noted.

*44 Devon Audit Partnership Update

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/15/29 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/15/29) outlining the performance of the Partnership from November 2014 to February 2015. Key achievements during this period included the Partnership s work on high profile projects such as Health Social Care Integration at Plymouth City Council and NEW Devon CCG, European Funding Audits and Ethics Audits.

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership highlighted the Partnership s intention to move into the housing sector, having recently taken part in tendering process for Westward Housing. Although unsuccessful on this occasion, the Partnership received useful feedback and aspired to develop into this area of work.

In response to Members questions, the Head of Devon Audit Partnership advised that the comparatively high level of staff sickness experienced over the last year had impacted on the timely completion of some reports, however plans were now in place to better manage outstanding work during periods of unplanned staff absence.

*45 Future Meetings

Wednesday 24 June and Wednesday 18 November 2015 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 11.35 am