Agenda and minutes

Members of the committee should declare any interests which fall under the following categories*:

a)    disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)    other significant interests (OSI);

c)     voluntary announcements of other interests.

Councillor David Owen declared a voluntary announcement in that he is a

Board Member of East Kent Housing. He remained in the meeting and took part in the discussions and voting.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2018 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

Report AuG/18/17 considers the application for a dispensation under the code of conduct for councillors to speak and vote received by a councillor who is also a director of Oportunitas.  The recommendation is that the dispensation be  granted.

Report AuG/18/17 considered the application for a dispensation under the code of conduct for councillors to speak and vote received by a councillor who is also a director of Oportunitas.  The recommendation was that the dispensation be granted.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Damon Robinson and

RESOLVED: 

1. To receive report no AuG/18/17.

2. To grant dispensations under the code of conduct and under section

    33 Localism Act 2011 to Councillor Tillson to allow him

    to speak and vote at meetings where company affairs are discussed;

3. That the dispensations be time limited to 2 May 2019;

4. That in the event of a change of directors the monitoring officer be

    authorised to consider applications for and grant dispensations to

    any councillor who becomes a director of Oportunitas on the same

    terms provided that the councillor concerned is not a member of the

    cabinet and the dispensation is time limited in the same way.

(Voting: For3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report AuG/18/15 presents the current position on progress towards achieving the 2018/19 actions set out in the Annual Governance Statement.

Report AuG/18/15 presented the current position on progress towards

achieving the 2018/19 actions set out in the Annual Governance Statement.

Gavin Edwards, Policy and Improvement Officer presented the report and informed members of the following:

·         Annual Review of Corporate Governance -completed ahead of schedule.

·         Anti-fraud and corruption – it was agreed that members would be offered training, similar to that offered to staff, during the next round of training sessions due to take place in June 2019.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Damon Robinson and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note report AuG/18/15.

2. To note the progress towards achieving the actions in the Annual

Governance Statement (Appendix 1 of the report).

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report AuG/18/16 presents a refreshed Corporate Risk Register based upon the updated Risk Management Policy & Strategy which was adopted by Cabinet in July. 

Report AuG/18/16 presented a refreshed Corporate Risk Register based

upon the updated Risk Management Policy & Strategy which was adopted

by Cabinet in July.

Charlotte Spendley, Assistant Director, presented the report paying particular attention to appendix 2 and the 12 items listed in the risk register, she confirmed that there was a consistent framework that all officers now work to.

A quarterly report will be presented to the committee with an annual report being presented outlining strategy and policies to make recommendations to Cabinet with any changes.

Proposed by Councillor David Owen

Seconded by Councillor Damon Robinson and

RESOLVED: 

1.            To receive and note report AuG/18/16.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report AuG/18/14 - Grant Thornton’s report provides an update on recent audit work undertaken, progress against key deliverables and a brief technical update.

Report AuG/18/14 - Grant Thornton’s report provided an update on recent

audit work undertaken, progress against key deliverables and a brief

technical update.

Elizabeth Jackson, Grant Thornton, presented the report informing members that she had nothing further to add other than initial work has started for 2018/19 and a report will be brought to the next meeting.

Proposed by Councillor David Owen

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

RESOLVED:

1.    To receive and note Report AuG/18/14.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report AuG/18/12 includes the summary of the work of the East Kent Audit Partnership (EKAP) since the last Audit and Governance Committee meeting together with details of the performance of the EKAP to the 30 September 2018.

Report AuG/18/12 included the summary of the work of the East Kent

Audit Partnership (EKAP) since the last Audit and Governance Committee

meeting together with details of the performance of the EKAP to the 30

September 2018.

Chris Parker, Deputy Head of Audit, presented the report informing members that there were no areas of concern.

Proposed by Councillor Damon Robinson

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

RESOLVED: 

1. To receive and note Report AuG/18/12.

2. To note the results of the work carried out by the East Kent Audit Partnership.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

To exclude the public for the following item of business on the

grounds that it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in

paragraph 3 of Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

1972:-

Paragraph 3:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) ‘Financial or business affairs’ includes contemplated as well as current activities.

EXEMPT ITEM

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor David Owen and

Resolved: To exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in

paragraph 3 of Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

1972:-

Paragraph 3:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any

particular person (including the authority holding that information)

‘Financial or business affairs’ includes contemplated as well as

current activities.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report AuG/18/13 provides Members with an update of an audit completed by the East Kent Audit Partnership since the last Governance Committee meeting.

Report AuG/18/13 provides Members with an update of an audit

completed by the East Kent Audit Partnership since the last Governance

Committee meeting.

Proposed by Councillor David Owen

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved: To receive and note Report AuG/18/13.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)