Agenda

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

External Auditor's Planning Report for information and noting.

The purpose of the report is to update the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee on the Internal Audit Performance for 2018/19 to 9 January 2019 against the Annual Audit Plan, highlight areas of concern and areas where assurance can be given on the internal control framework.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That Members note the Audit Performance for 2018/19 to 9 January 2019.

(2)  That Members note the highlighted areas of control weakness from the 2018/19 Audit Plan.

The purpose of the report is to inform members and the wider community of the Council’s Treasury Management position, ie. its borrowing and cash investments at 31 December 2018 and of the risks attached to that position.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That it be noted that there have been no breaches of the Treasury Management Policy 2018/19 in the period up to 31 December 2018

(2)  That the actual Treasury Management indicators as at 31  December 2018 set out in Appendix A be noted

The purpose of the report is to report significant performance issues, arising from Q2 performance monitoring, to Governance and Audit and Standards committee and highlight areas for further action or analysis.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee is asked to

(1)  Note the report

(2)  Note the continued  improvement in quality of reports from directorates;

(3)  Agree if any   further  action is required in response to performance issues highlighted

(4)  Note that reports for 2019/2020 will be provided in a streamlined format, as set out in section 4 of the report.

The purpose of the report is to  inform the Committee of any Data Security Breaches and actions agreed/taken since the last meeting.

RECOMMENDED that Members of the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee note the breaches (by reference to Appendix A) that have arisen and the action determined by the Corporate Information Governance Panel (CIGP).

The purpose of the report is to inform the Committee of the work already undertaken and ongoing to ensure the Council's compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018.

RECOMMENDED that Members of the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee note the actions taken.

The purpose of the report is to update Members of the Committee in relation to complaints which have been progressed within the calendar year 2018 and which allege that Councillors may have breached the Code of Conduct.

RECOMMENDED that Members of the Committee

(1)       Note the report

(2)       Consider whether any further action is required by them.

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The purpose of the report is to update Members of the Committee on the nature and handling of any whistleblowing concerns which have been raised in the past year.

RECOMMENDED that Members of the Committee

(1)   Note the report

(2)   Consider whether any further action is required by them.

The purpose of the report is to ask Members to consider proposed changes to the current Member / Officer Protocol as set out in the Constitution, Part 4D.

RECOMMENDED that Members

(1)  Consider the proposed amendments as set out in the appendix: Paragraph 6: 'Officers and party political groups'.

(2)  Are asked to

(a)  Recommend adoption by Full Council on 12 February 2019 to approve the proposed changes shown as track changes in the Appendix; and

(b)  Agree that if approved by Full Council, the City Solicitor may make the proposed amendments to the Protocol for Member / Officer relations in Part 4D of the Constitution.

The purpose of the report is to ask Members to consider proposed changes to the delegated authority granted to the City Solicitor to settle claims on behalf of the Council, as set out in the Constitution, Part 2 Responsibility for Functions, Delegation to Directors, delegation to City Solicitor.

RECOMMENDED that Members

(1)  Consider the proposed amendments set out in the report

(2)  Are asked to

(a)  Recommend adoption by Full Council on 12 February 2019 to approve the proposed increase to the delegated authority granted to the City Solicitor to £75,000 to settle claims on behalf of the Council; and

(b)  Agree that if approved by Full Council, the City Solicitor may make the appropriate amendments to the Delegation to Directors in the Constitution.

The purpose of this information only report is to update the  Committee on the Equality Impact Assessments undertaken in 2018.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday 8 March 2019 at 10.30am.