Agenda item - Audit Report on Member Expenses

Extract from the proceedings of the Audit & Standards Committee meeting held on the 28 June 2022 (to follow), together with a report of the Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law.

19.1    The Mayor confirmed that the extract were draft minutes of the Audit & Standards Committee meeting held on 28 June 2022.

19.2    Councillor Wilkinson introduced the report. He advised that the report was referred to Council for information by the Conservative Group. He stated that a full debate took place at Audit & Standards Committee on 28 June 2022 and decisions were made to improve the current system for managing member expenses and a way forward agreed. Also, that all of the independent audit report recommendations were agreed with the following additional recommendations:

·        All Members should be supported with, and regularly reminded of, their responsibilities to submit fully completed claim forms with supporting documentation within the relevant timeframe.

·        Democratic Services should consider whether it is possible to introduce electronic claim forms to reduce the possibility of a claim form being misplaced

·        That officers are instructed to consult with the Independent Renumeration Panel (IRP) regarding extending the time limit for submitting claims to three months

·        That the Committee receive an update report as soon as reasonably possible to a future meeting.

He further stated that as Chair of Audit & Standards Committee that allegations of misconduct, particularly in relation to taxpayers money were taken incredibly seriously, was keen to ensure that Audit & Standards retained oversight of the issue and received the update as agreed.  

19.3    Councillor Meadows stated that she had heard that Councillor Phillips had paid back claimed expenses however wondered if this was accurate as there remained 6 missing claim forms which could hold other information meaning further amounts outstanding. She highlighted that 3 claims from Councillor Phillips were included in the report. She stated that her questions had gone unanswered with the Council assuming the matter was now closed. She added that without the missing forms there could be no assumptions just speculations.

19.4    Councillor Littman stated that at the beginning of the Audit & Standards Committee meeting that the Monitoring Officer made clear in his introduction that the report cleared Councillor Phillips of fraud. He highlighted that Councillor Meadows accusation of fraud was directly contradicted by the report and that the audit was carried out by a senior audit manager from another council.

19.5    The Mayor stated that the report had been referred for information and moved that it be noted.

19.6    RESOLVED: That the report be noted