Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, County Councillor F De Molfetta welcomed Authority Members and members of the press and public to the virtual committee meeting of the Audit Committee.  He advised that in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic the Government had made regulations that enabled virtual meetings.  This meeting was accessible for Committee Members via Microsoft Teams and for members of the press and public via a live webcast on YouTube.

The Committee Members individually confirmed their attendance at the start of the meeting.

Apologies were received from County Councillors Tony Martin and Dave Stansfield.

Members are asked to consider any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.

None received.

RESOLVED: - That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 23 September 2020 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

The Director of Corporate Services presented the report.

Revenue Budget

The overall position as at the end of September showed an underspend of £0.8m, largely as a result of reduced spend during the first quarter, due to the Covid-19 pandemic as planned expenditure was not progressed as previously reported.  This position had continued to a large extent into quarter two, and although we were currently discussing with budget holders what impact this could have on their end of year budgetary position, any further lockdown period would have continued impacts on spending.  In addition, it was noted that this would have significant impacts on the outturn position for 2020/21, which was estimated to be circa £0.7m after allowing for the virements proposed for Member consideration.  This would be updated and reported for the remainder of the financial year, however it was noted that Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had confirmed they would be carrying out the annual National Non-Domestic Rates 3 reconciliation and would be making payments where appropriate to authorities in January 2021.  This had not been included in the forecast as there was no guarantee anything would be received.

The year to date positions within individual departments were set out in the report with major variances relating to non-pay spends and variances on the pay budget being shown separately in the table below: -

The report and its recommendations would now need to be considered (as appropriate) with an update provided to the next meeting of this Committee.

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee has been agreed for 10:00 hours on 24 March 2021 – venue to be confirmed.

Further meetings are:           scheduled for 7 July 2021 and 29 September 2021

                                                proposed for 1 December 2021.

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday, 24 March 2021 at 1000 hours – venue to be confirmed.

Further meeting dates were scheduled for 7 July 2021 and 29 September 2021 and agreed for 1 December 2021.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, they consider that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated under the heading to the item.

RESOLVED: - That the press and members of the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated under the heading to the item.

(Paragraph 3)

Members considered a report that proposed to temporarily alter the processes to enable some support to be given to staff impacted by the Covid emergency and to re-endorse the principles under which the existing discretions were used.

RESOLVED – That the Committee approved the recommendations as set out in the report.

(Paragraph 3)

Members considered a report that provided an update on all contracts for one-off purchases valued in excess of £100,000 and high value procurement projects in excess of £100,000 including: new contract awards, progress of ongoing projects and details of new projects.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee noted and endorsed the report.