Agenda and minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or personal interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct.  In making their decision councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public. A person or organisation can ask either 2 questions, or 2 statements or 1 question and 1 statement at each meeting

Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Public Participation Time Rules

The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on 16 June 2021. Please submit your questions or statements to:

democraticservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

The were no statements or questions from Town and Parish Councils or the Public

To receive the audit report from Deloitte and a presentation from officers.

The 2019/20 accounts can be viewed as part of the agenda for the Audit & Governance Committee held in November 2020:

click here

Ian House the External Auditor from Deloitte presented the final audit report on the 2019/20 Accounts.  He highlighted the conclusions of the audit work and clarified the relevant points.  A modified opinion on the financial statement would be issued rather than a qualified opinion, this was in relation to one balance, due to the provision for appeals in relation to non-domestic rates.

Following a summary of the main points of the audit The External Auditor updated the committee in the following areas from the report:

·       Determination of Materiality

·       Significant Risks

·       Property Valuations

·       Completeness of Accrued Expenditures

·       Calculation of the Council’s Pension Fund Liability

·       Management Override of Controls

·       Value For Money (Children’s Services)

·       Adjusted and Unadjusted Misstatements

The Corporate Director Finance and Commercial together with The Executive Director, of People - Children, addressed the committee members.  The Corporate Director Finance and Commercial reminded members that at the 16 November 2020 meeting the committee gave delegated authority to the Chairman and the Section 151 Officer to sign the accounts, today’s presentation was to update members with any changes to the report since that meeting, to ensure good governance.

The Executive Director of People – Children outlined the challenges for Children’s Services together with action taken and progress to date.

Members of the Audit & Governance Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions.

Members asked for regular updates on the NDR Working Paper and future progress in Children’s Services, ie. Ofsted Inspection findings and outcomes.

In summing up the Section 151 Officer and The Corporate Director,  Legal and Democratic, confirmed that authority from the November committee meeting had given the Section 151 Officer and Chairman authority to sign the Accounts and a further decision from the committee was not needed.

To receive the Forward Plan.  

The Forward Plan was noted and the Committee agreed that as there were no items for discussion in August that the meeting scheduled for 9 August 2021 should be cancelled.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There is no exempt business.

There was no exempt business.