Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Claire Heather, Senior Democratic Support Officer  023 8083 2412

Link: link to this meeting

Items
No. Item

12.

Minutes Of Previous Meeting (Including Matters Arising) pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27th July 2020and to deal with any matters arising.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 27th July 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

13.

Annual Report on Members' Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 396 KB

Report of the Service Director: Legal & Business Operations detailing the Annual Report on Members' Code of Conduct

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted the report of the Deputy Chief Executive detailing the Annual Report on the Members’ Code of Conduct.

 

The Committee noted that there had been no formal complaints received regarding Councillors in 2019/20 that required preliminary investigation.

 

The Committee also noted the key recommendations of a report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life which was published in January 2019 and the Local Government Associations Draft Model Code of Conduct as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.  In conclusion the Committee noted that the proposed changes were not significant and the Council’s adopted Code of Conduct had worked well to date therefore no changes were considered necessary at this time but would be reviewed when a final model Code was provided.

 

 

14.

Workforce Data Report pdf icon PDF 300 KB

Report of the Service Director HR and OD detailing workforce data.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive detailing workforce data which had been requested by the Committee following the Annual Governance Statement being presented which highlighted the value of diversity across the Authority.

 

The Committee noted that workforce data relied on personal submission from staff and whilst an exercise had taken place to collect up to date information as part of the transition to Business World many staff elected not to disclose ethnicity and or disability therefore the overall picture was an indicative snapshot.

 

RESOLVED: That as part of the Annual Governance Statement valuing diversity across the Authority was recognised as a key feature and the Committee in supporting this requested a six-month progress report on workforce data be submitted.  

15.

INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 309 KB

Report of the Chief Internal Auditor detailing progress for the period 1st April to 14th September 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Internal Auditor detailing the Internal Audit Progress Report for the period 1st April – 14th September 2020.

 

The Committee noted that the audit plan would be more fluid this year to take account of any impact from the Covid-19 Pandemic and particularly noted the positive news in that five of the follow up audits had received higher levels of assurance. 

 

The Committee requested that copies of the Accounts Payable and Project Governance audits be shared with Members outside of the meeting.

 

 

16.

Exclusion of the Press and the Public

Chair to move that in accordance with the Council's Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of the appendix to the following item based on Categories 7(A) of paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules.

 

 

 

The information contained therein is exempt as it contains information about council contracts and contractors which may be deemed to be confidential and commercially sensitive.  Having applied the public interest test it is not appropriate to disclose this information.

 

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained therein, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of the appendix to the following item based on Categories 7(A) of Paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules.

 

The information contained therein was exempt as it contained information about Council Contracts and Contractors which may be deemed to be confidential and commercially sensitive.  Having applied the public interest test it was not appropriate to disclose this information. 

17.

Strategic Contracts Annual Report pdf icon PDF 305 KB

Report of the Head of Supplier Management to provide an overview of the performance, governance and contractual matters relating to the council's most strategically important contracts.

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted the report of the Executive Director of Finance and Commercialisation detailing the Strategic Contracts Annual Report to the period April 2020 as detailed in the confidential appendix to the report.

 

The Committee moved into confidential session at the commencement of this item in order to have a full debate.