Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 31 August 2016 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 August 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/94), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/16/94) summarising the Partnership’s activity in the first six months of 2016/17. 

The Head of Service and Members discussed and noted, in particular:

·         the new draft Partnership Agreement which was currently with Legal Officers at Plymouth and Torbay for approval;

·         Torridge District Council would join the Partnership, as a non-voting member, for 2016/17;

·         the possibility of varying the terms of membership and quorum of the Committee, on which the Head of Service advised he would report further to the next meeting;

·         disappointment at the unsuccessful bid to provide audit services to the Council of the Isles of Scilly; the bid being only £1,500 (over the five year period) more than the successful tenderer.

Report of the Head of Partnership (CT/16/95), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/16/95) monitoring the Budget of the Partnership at month 6, indicating a potential small underspend at year-end due to increased income from partners and clients.

The Head of Partnership undertook to investigate the availability of insurance to cover the cost to the Partnership of lost sickness days.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/96), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/16/96) setting out the updated Strategic and Operational risks currently facing the Partnership including the future of the Partnership post March 2017; the change in priorities or dissatisfaction of one of the founding partners resulting in a partner leaving; and failure to deliver an agreed audit plan in line with current targets resulting in increased control risk to clients and a lack of confidence in Devon Audit Partnership as a provider.

The Partnership’s Management were continuing to put mitigating actions in place to manage the risks effectively.

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

RESOLVED that Managing Sickness be added to the Risk Register; and that the Report be noted.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/16/97), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/16/97) outlining the results from the CIPFA benchmarking exercise for 2015/16.  The Partnership had chosen to use data from Plymouth City Council in the exercise, being seen as representative of the Partnership overall. 

Results showed that the Partnership performed very well in 2015/16 and was below average in the majority of areas; particularly in relation to mainline audit cost per million pounds gross turnover; net cost to local authority per chargeable day and cost per auditor.

The Head of Partnership advised that:

·         staff sickness levels were comparatively high and this had impacted on the number of audit days delivered;

·         although training days were showing to be low in number, the training budget had not been reduced.

Wednesday 15 March 2017 and Wednesday 21 June 2017. 

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings:

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=175

Wednesday 15 March 2017 and Wednesday 21 June 2017.

[NB: Dates of future meetings are shown in the County Council’s Calendar of Meetings at:

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=175]