Agenda item - Chair's Communications

3.1      The chair provided the following communications:

First of all, I’d like to say welcome to Councillor Hewitt who is a new member of the committee. Just to say what we do here is a bit different to what the Cabinet does and what the old executive committees used to do. Although we have a general purposes element and we do set some policy and it’s quite exciting when we do get the opportunity. Mostly speaking our role is one of oversight to make sure that the processes we overlook in the case of audit and member standards are being conducted correctly. We act as a critical friend to the organisation. We all obviously want the Council to succeed, and times are challenging  and that becomes none the easier as a result. So our role really is to ask the difficult questions at times as well because we do really need to hear the management and administration’s response to what the auditors are finding. This isn’t done in a hostile way, it is done in a constructive way. There can be political challenge at times but generally speaking that’s what we’re trying to do. So it’s for all members of the committee to make sure that they feel open and available to asking those questions of the administration so that we can see continual improvement for the organisation.

We have two external audit reports today before us, as well as an internal audit report including the annual opinion. So all of those pertain to 24-25. The external audit reports carry recommendations that the committee might raise additional matters that it considers may impact on the external audit work to come. To better help us inform that opportunity, I’ve suggested we take the internal audit report first because there will be matters arising out that which we may then, as members, choose to raise with external auditors. I think the order is important in that, so our first report will be the internal report and then we go to the external reports.

The External Audit findings report is unlikely to be available for our September meeting, and it will be good to discuss this sooner than our January meeting, which is the subsequent meeting, so that the report is able to best inform the budget setting process for 26-27. In order for us to consider the audit findings in a timely way and also to agree the audited statement of accounts that needs to be lodged, as this has to happen before our January meeting is held. It’s been suggested and I’ve agreed that we have an additional meeting, a special meeting, in November so we can best time this. I know the members have now received an invitation, that is the explanation for the reason for doing so.

We’re joined today by Councillor Allen, Councillor Allen is the Lead Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Public Realm, which includes council’s transformation and improvement work, in attendance today I think specifically to talk through the Annual Governance Statement item. But I’m fully aware there may be other questions that arise that you may wish to help respond to.

We have Councillor Taylor as well, the Cabinet member for Finance and Regeneration, who has specifically requested to be present to be able to speak to the New England House report and again I’m sure there will be other matters you can present before you, you’ve responded to some of the questions particularly with internal audit. You’re very welcome, it’s great to see you. We also have the Chief Executive here to introduce that New England House report.

We were due to consider a report this time on Housing Complaints, and this is a new responsibility for the committee. I felt that we actually needed some training before we considered it. It was a pretty weighty report in unfamiliar territory for myself. So I’ve asked for that to come to us in September, because there was no particular urgency on that. September will be soon enough, so we’ll have that then. Meanwhile, we’re promised a briefing from officers to introduce us to what that’s all about. We’re looking forward to receiving that.