Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Thursday, 5th June, 2003 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 12th March, 2003
Time:
7.00pm
Place:
Committee Room 1, Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor F Chaudhry (in the Chair);
Councillors E B Briggs, T P Chamberlain, Y Creswell,V D'Albert, G Sharkey, W Ramsey, B Vincent, J F Walton and Mr J Lodge.
Co-opted:
The Leader of the Council, Councillor J Byrne and Deputy Leader Councillor W Campbell also attended the meeting during the consideration of Item 3 - District Audit Annual Audit Letter 2001/02.

1 member of the public attended the meeting.
Apologies for absence:
Councillor W Davison.
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
SP.1227 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item SP.1227
 
SP.1228 DISTRICT AUDIT ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER 2001/02
Preamble for item SP.1228
Delegated decisions:

1. That the District Audit Annual Audit Letter for 2001/02 be noted.

2. That Frank Kerkham, District Auditor, who will be taking up a new post as Head of Operations - Northern Region, be thanked on behalf of the Councillors of Bury for his guidance and help over the previous years.
SP.1229 AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT 2002/03
Preamble for item SP.1229
Delegated decision:

That the report be noted.
SP.1230 Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 11th December, 2002 07.00pm
  • Minutes
Delegated decision:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2002, be approved as a correct record.
SP.1231 MATTERS ARISING
Preamble for item SP.1231
It was agreed:

1. That the letter received from Head of Lifelong Learning be copied to all Members of the Audit Sub-Committee.

2. That the Chief Internal Auditor monitor the progress made in this area.
SP.1232 DISTRICT AUDIT "FOLLOW UP REVIEW OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC ARRANGEMENTS 2001/02" - AUTHORITY ACTION PLAN
Preamble for item SP.1232
Delegated decision:

That the Action Plan be endorsed.
SP.1233 EMPLOYEE CAR LOAN SCHEME
Preamble for item SP.1233
Delegated decision:

That a major review of the Employee Car Loans Scheme be undertaken, taking into consideration the issues raised in the report.
SP.1234 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
 Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business since they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information in respect of action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention and investigation or prosecution of a crime.
Exempt
SP.1235 INTERNAL AUDIT ANNUAL PLAN 2003/04
  • (Attachment: 8)A Report from the Chief Internal Auditor
  • |
    (Attachment: 9)Internal Audit Annual Plan
  
SP.1236 INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT
  • (Attachment: 10)A Report from the Chief Internal Auditor
  • |
    (Attachment: 11)Appendix A
  • |
    (Attachment: 12)Appendix B
  • |
    (Attachment: 13)Appendix C
  
SP.1237 INTERNAL AUDIT - MEMBERS' FEEDBACK
  • (Attachment: 14)A report from the Chief Internal Auditor
  
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and finished at 9.15 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
SP.1227No members of the public asked questions under this item.
SP.1228Julian Farmer of District Audit presented the 2001/02 Annual Audit letter. In last year's Audit letter, two recommendations had been made under Section 11 of the Audit Commission Act 1998, that is, recommendations that require a public response by the Council.

These related to the Social Services and Information and Communication Technology.

The report looked at progress on these issues and made comment on the following:

- Comprehensive Performance Assessment

- Best Value and Performance Indicators

- Financial Standing

- Developing Democratic and Constitutional Arrangements

- Partnership Working

- Local Public Service Agreement

- Human Resources

The Chief Executive responded to the report and drew particular attention to the following:-

- It had been reported that the projected overspend in Social Services had been reduced to £389,000 in 2002/03 from over £2m in 2001/02. It was hoped to break even at 31 March 2003. It was acknowledged, however, that the Department would face significant pressures.

- Improvement in Information and Communication Technology had been achieved by relating its development to outcomes.

- The comments of District Audit on CPA were welcomed. The process did not take account of performance against resource availability.

- Significant improvements had been made in bringing down rent arrears.
SP.1229The District Auditor submitted the first Progress Report of the current year. The Audit Plan was on track and reports would be submitted to the Sub-Committee at future meetings.
SP.1231Further to Minute SP.866 (2), Councillor Sharkey reported that a youth worker had not yet been appointed to Sunnybank Centre and as a consequence all youth activities had been transferred to the Shuttle Centre in Whitefield.

Councillor Sharkey had received a letter explaining the situation from the Head of Lifelong Learning which he requested be circulated to all Members of the Audit Sub-Committee.
SP.1232The Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report summarising the
SP.1233A report from the Director of Finance and E-Government was submitted to the Sub-Committee. The report updated Members on the performance of the Authority's car loan scheme and responded to specific queries raised at previous meetings of the Sub-Committee.

The report also presented a case to consider if a major review of the scheme was necessary at that time.