Agenda

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 13 March 2015 and 17 April 2015 as a correct record.

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meetings held on 13 March 2015 and 17 April 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Sector Update from External Auditor for discussion and noting.

External  Auditor's Progress Report - June 2015 - for discussion and noting.

(Also going to Full Council)

The purpose of the report is to inform members of a change to the procedures that must be followed for the dismissal of designated posts (Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer or Chief Finance Officer) using a designated independent person and to seek, from G&A&S, a recommendation to council to amend the Council's Officers' Employment Procedure Rules in Part 3D of the Constitution to reflect these new procedures. Members are also asked to agree that a copy of the report should be sent to Employment Committee for information.

RECOMMENDED

1.  That the new process for dismissal of a designated person (set out in paragraphs 4.1-4.3) of the report be noted.

2.  That Full Council agrees that the Officers' Employment Procedure Rules in Part 3D of the Constitution be amended to reflect the change in process. The proposed changes are attached as Appendix 1

3.  That the Director of Legal, HR and Performance be tasked with the creation of any such panel if it is required

4.  That this report be sent to Employment Committee for information.

The purpose of the report is to update members on progress against a number of issues identified as governance risks in the 2013/14 Annual Governance Statement, and to highlight matters of relevance in preparing the 2014/15 statement.

RECOMMENDED that the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee are asked to:

1) note and agree the recommendations relating to each of the governance issues set out in section 4.1 of the report.

2) reinforce their expectations in relation to corporate governance for 2015/16 as set out in paragraph 5.5 of the report.

The purpose of this report is to give the Annual Audit Opinion on the effectiveness of the control framework, based on the Internal Audit findings for 2014/15 and highlight areas of concern and to advise Members of the Audit Plan for 2015/16.

RECOMMENDED that

1.      Members note the Audit Performance for 2014/15

2.      Members note the highlighted areas of control weakness for the 2014/15 Audit Plan

3.      Members note the Annual Audit Opinion on the effectiveness of the system of internal control for 2014/15

4.      Members endorse the Audit Plan for 2015/16

(Also going to Full Council)

The purpose of the report is to ask the Committee to approve the revised Planning Code so that it may be incorporated into the Council's constitution.  

RECOMMENDED that the Planning Code is approved and incorporated into the Constitution.

The purpose of the reports is to ask the Committee to consider whether it wishes to disapply the political balance rules in respect of its Sub-Committees which are considering complaints against Members.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to disapply the political balance rules in respect of its Sub-Committees which are considering complaints against Members.