Agenda

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 31st December 2019 and of the risks attached to that position.

Whilst the Council has a portfolio of investment properties and some equity shares which were acquired through the capital programme; these do not in themselves form part of the treasury management function.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee note

(1)  That the Council's Treasury Management activities have remained within the Treasury Management Policy 2019/20 in the period up to 31st December 2019

(2)  That the actual Treasury Management indicators as at 31st December 2019 set out in Appendix A be noted.

(This is the report that was marked to follow, published to the web on 28 February)

The purpose of this report is to obtain the Council’s approval of the updated Treasury Management Policy Statement (attached) which includes the Annual Investment Strategy.

3. Recommendations

3.1a that the upper limit for principal sums invested for longer than 365 days contained in paragraph 4.7 of the attached Treasury Management Policy Statement be approved;

3.1b that the upper and lower limits on the maturity structure of borrowing contained in appendix 5.1 of the attached Treasury Management Policy Statement be approved;

3.1c that the attached Treasury Management Policy Statement including the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21 be approved;

3.1d That the Council will where it is financially responsible to do so, give preference to investments that improve the environment, bring wider social benefits, and are with organisations with good governance. In particular the Council will:

(i) Avoid investments in fossil fuel extraction unless they are making substantial investment into renewable energy technologies as part of a strategy to become a clean energy supplier;

(ii) Consider the environmental, social and governance elements of credit ratings in making investment decisions, provided that the overall risk profile of the investment portfolio (including liquidity risk) and returns are not compromised;

3.1e that rated building societies be given the same lending limits as banks;

3.1f that the Council will only lend to housing associations if they have a viability rating of V1 and a Governance rating of G1 from Homes England;

3.1g that lending to Hampshire Community Bank (HCB) will be secured on loans made by HCB to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of the highest credit quality which may not in turn be secured on tangible fixed assets;

3.1h that the maximum duration of loans to HCB be reduced from 10 years to 5 years;

3.1i As set out in paragraph 1.4 of the Treasury Management Policy Statement, the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) and officers nominated by him have delegated authority to:

(i) invest surplus funds in accordance with the approved Annual Investment Strategy;

(ii) borrow to finance short term cash deficits and capital payments from any reputable source within the authorised limit for external debt of £883m approved by the City Council on 11th February 2020;

(iii) reschedule debt in order to even the maturity profile or to achieve revenue savings;

(iv) to buy and sell foreign currency, and to purchase hedging instruments including forward purchases, forward options and foreign exchange rate swaps to mitigate the foreign exchange risks associated with some contracts that are either priced in foreign currencies or where the price is indexed against foreign currency exchange rates;

3.1j that the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) has the power to delegate treasury management operations to relevant staff;  

3.1k that the Chief Executive, the Leader of the City Council and the Chair of the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee be informed of any variances from the Treasury Management Policy when they become apparent, and that the Leader of the City Council be consulted on remedial action (paragraph 1.2.2 of Treasury Management Policy Statement).

Presentation of the 2019/20 Audit Plan from the External Auditors for noting.

The purpose of this information only report is to bring further details regarding complaints upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) in 2018/19 to the attention of the Committee.

The purpose of this information only report is to update members on the 2020 training programme for councillors and report on the training undertaken by elected members in 2019.

The purpose of the report is to outline the requirements for and consider the appointment of a further two Independent Persons, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011.

RECOMMENDED that Governance and Audit and Standards Committee recommend that Council appoint Mark Walsh and John Young as Independent Persons for three years from 1 May 2020 through to 1 May 2023.

Purpose

To report significant performance issues, arising from Q2 2019-20 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 in the revised format

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

The purpose of the report is for the Committee to consider the proposed wording for part 4C of the Portsmouth City Council constitution - the Employees' Code of Conduct and decide what recommendation goes forward to Full Council.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee;

(1)  Notes the importance of informing an employee about personal use of social media.

(2)  Supports the wording presented in Appendix A for inclusion in the Employees' Code of Conduct

(3)  Further to (2) above, should the committee support the changes as presented, agree for the revisions to be recommended to Full Council.

The purpose of the report is to update Members on any issues regarding compliance with the Gifts & Hospitality protocol and to advise on remedies.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the Committee considers whether or not to make any recommendations for change

(2)  That in the absence of any changes, the report is noted

The purpose of the report is to update Members of the Committee in relation to complaints which have been progressed within the calendar year 2019 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.

(This is the report that was marked to follow, published to the web on 28 February)

The purpose of this report is to consider revisions to Part 2 Section 5 Chief Officers' Delegated Authority and Companies protocol for adoption into the Council's constitution.

Recommended that the Committee recommends to Council the proposed amendments to Part 2 Section 5 Chief Officers' Delegated Authority for adoption into the Council's constitution.

(This is the report that was marked to follow, published to the web on 28 February)

The purpose of this report is to ask Governance & Audit & Standards Committee to consider recommending to Council that the option to refer Notices of Motion to other bodies of the Council and subsequently report back to Council, be removed.

Recommended that Governance & Audit & Standards Committee recommends to full Council to that all the wording after the first sentence in section d of Standing Order 32 be deleted leaving "Motions included in the agenda must be formally moved and seconded."

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 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 update Members of this Committee on the nature and handling of any whistleblowing concerns which have been raised for the period January 2019 to December 2019. Also to seek approval in relation to minor amendments to the whistleblowing policy following the departure of the previous City Solicitor and Director of HR, Legal and Performance.

RECOMMENDED that Members of the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee:

1)        Note this report and the attached Appendix A and consider whether any further action is required.

2)        Approve the changes to the whistleblowing policy (Appendix B) which has been amended following the departure of the City Solicitor and Director of HR Legal and Performance

In view of the contents of the following item on the agenda the Committee is RECOMMENDED to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that the appendices to the reports contain information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972"

The public interest in maintaining the exemption must outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) England Regulations 2012, regulation 5, the reasons for exemption of the listed appendices are shown below.

(NB The exempt/confidential committee papers on the agenda will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. Members are reminded of standing order restrictions on the disclosure of exempt information and are invited to return their exempt documentation to the Senior Local Democracy Officer at the conclusion of the meeting for shredding.)

Item                                                                                        Exemption Para No.*

19. Audit Performance Status Report

(Exempt appendix B)                                                        1,2 and 3

20. Procurement Management Information

(Exempt Appendices 4 and 5 only)                                           3

*1. Information relating to any individual

*2. Information that is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

*3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The purpose of this report is to update the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee on the Internal Audit Performance for 2019/20 to 29^th January 2020 against the Annual Audit Plan, highlight areas of concern and areas where assurance can be given on the internal control framework. The 2020/21 Annual Audit Plan is also attached as Appendix C for committee approval. 

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That Members note the Audit Performance for 2019/20 to 29^th January 2020.

(2)   That Members note the highlighted areas of concern in relation to audits completed from the 2019/20 Audit Plan, including follow up work performed.

(3)  That Members endorse the Audit Plan for 2020/21.

The purpose of the report is to provide evidence to allow the committee to evaluate the extent that Portsmouth City Council is achieving value for money in its contracts for goods, services and works.