Agenda and minutes

David Ewart (as Chair) welcomed everyone in remote attendance to the first virtual meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee.  Before asking all those attending to introduce themselves, he informed the Committee that he had been advised of Robert Cawley’s and Karen McArthur’s intention to step down as independent co-opted members on the Committee, with effect from 27 May 2020.

Although both had given their apologies for the meeting they had asked for their thanks to be passed on to everyone for the support received whilst undertaking this role.  On behalf of the Committee, the Chair took the opportunity to thank Robert and Karen for their support and interest whilst serving as co-opted members and to wish them well for the future, with arrangements being made by the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations to find suitable replacements.

The following apologies for absence were received:

·         Councillors Choudry with Councillor Kabir attending as a substitute member.

·         Dr Rob Cawley & Karen McArthur (Independent co-opted Members)

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

None.

To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67.

None.

The report provides the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee with a summary of the work that has been undertaken since Emergency Planning and GOLD arrangements were stood up in the Council, as a result of the pandemic coronavirus COVID 19.  The report also outlines the resource implications of the actions that have been taken by the Council.

Carolyn Downs (Chief Executive) introduced the report providing the Committee with an overview of the emergency planning arrangements introduced in a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The report also included an update on the service changes that had been introduced as part of the Council’s overall response along with details of those services categorised as critical in terms of business continuity planning for Covid 19.  In addition, the report included an update on the current financial impact on the Council, as a result of the measures introduced to respond to Covid 19, including the estimated loss of income and impact on the ability to achieve the savings agreed as part of the Council’s budget for 2020/21.

In considering the report, the Committee noted:

·                The scheduled of service change decisions and critical services identified in Appendix 1 and 2 of the report.  Included as part of the emergency planning arrangements were emergency decision making powers delegated to the Chief Executive in order to make urgent decisions.  The Committee were made aware that whilst many decisions had continued to be made under existing delegated powers, some had required urgent consideration under the Chief Executive’s emergency powers, which had required enacting without the usual level of consultation.

·                The arrangements in relation to the standing up of the GOLD emergency planning response alongside the London wide arrangements being co-ordinated through the London Resilience Forum and a Strategic Co-ordination Group, as detailed in section 3 of the report.  The London Local Authority Gold arrangements had been implemented through a sub-regional structure with Brent falling within the West London sub region along with Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham.  Carolyn Downs advised that she was leading the West London sub-regional response.

·                The main areas of heightened activity across the Council, as detailed in section 3.10 of the report.  Specific areas highlighted included:

Ø   The focus on Adult Social Care in relation to supporting hospital discharges, care homes and domiciliary care;

Ø   The support and work with the Voluntary and Community Sector and charities in supporting residents across the borough;

Ø   The focus as a priority on protecting those people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness and in establishing procedures enabling essential checks and emergency repairs on council housing to continue;

Ø   The additional capacity being provided to deal with the increase in benefit and Council tax enquiries and roll out of the Government’s Hardship Fund;

Ø   The work with schools to provide guidance and support co-ordination in relation to the childcare commitment for key workers and in terms of their  eventual re-opening, including the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

Ø   The ongoing enforcement efforts in relation to social distancing within parks and open spaces and work with local businesses regarding support on the small grant scheme and Business Rate relief;

Ø   The arrangements in place to ensure the continued delivery of Council services across most areas, although the response had required the closure of libraries and ceasing general public access to Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This report presents the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2019/20, as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.  The AGS is being presented to the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee for consideration, prior to formal approval by the Audit and Standards Committee.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations setting out the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2019/20, as required under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

In considering the report, the Committee noted:

·                The seven core governance principles introduced by CIPFA upon which the review of governance arrangements and production of the AGS had been based, as detailed in section 3.4 of the report;

·                That whilst no significant governance issues had been identified during 2019/20, an additional summary had been included within section 5 of the report outlining the governance arrangements in place to support management of the Covid 19 pandemic;

·                The importance of the AGS in outlining the Council’s framework of control in relation to its Governance arrangements and in terms of managing risk.

Members were advised that they were being invited to comment on the draft AGS in advance of its formal consideration and approval by the Audit and Standards Committee.  The following issues were raised:

(a)      Whilst welcoming the report, members advised they would be keen to review and develop the future format and content of the report to include enhanced focus on the measures being taken to support the core governance principles with the following areas highlighted as specific examples integrity, engagement and intervention;

(b)      The need to consider and reflect as part of future Statements the relationship between the Council’s Audit and Scrutiny functions, with the committee noting the approach being developed to improve co-ordination between each functions respective work programmes.

(c)       The need identified to consider, as an additional impact of the governance related issues arising from the Covid 19 pandemic, the risks in relation to Pension Fund investments.

The Committee noted that whilst the AGS would be subject to detailed review by Grant Thornton, as the Council’s External Auditors, it was not anticipated that any significant issues were likely to be raised.

As no further issues were highlighted, the Advisory Committee RESOLVED to endorse, subject to the comments above, the draft 2019/20 Annual Governance Statement for reference on to the Audit and Standards Committee for formal approval.

To consider and agree the Committee’s Forward Plan for 2020/21, which will continue to be reviewed and updated at each meeting.

The Committee received and noted the 2020/2021 Work Programme, which included the dates for future meetings and would be included for ongoing review as an agenda item for all future meetings.

Following on from comments highlighted under the Annual Governance Statement in terms of developing relevant links between the Audit and Scrutiny work programmes, the Chief Executive advised that she would look to review and take this issue forward with the Assistant Chief Executive outside of the meeting.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.