Councillor Eunice Campbell Clark (other NCC business)

Richard Henderson – Director of HR, Equality and Inclusion, NCC (Ceri Morgan substituting)

None.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2021 for confirmation

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2021 were confirmed as a true record and will be signed by the Chair.

To agree to meet on 20 June 2022 at 10.30am at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA

Agreed to next meet on 20 June 2022 at 10.30am at County Hall, Glenfield.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (NCC) and the Assistant Director – Finance, Strategic Property & Commissioning (LCC)  

Simon Parsons, Audit Manager NCC, presented the report which updates members on the work of the current Audit Plan for 2021/22, and seeks approval for the 2022/23 Audit Plan.

The following points were highlighted and responses provided to members’ questions:

a)  normally at this time of year, the current year audit would be nearing completion, however, due to several significant challenges this has not been possible and so reports are not yet formally available;

b)  although initial access to Fusion proved to be problematic, as did identifying the required information, these issues are being resolved and colleagues liaise with Lucy Littlefair, Head of EMSS, for the required data;

c)  it is anticipated that audit reports for accounts payable and receivable will be available by the end of the financial year, but completion of audit reports for payroll and systems administration is not anticipated until May, although every effort will be made, including potentially the allocation of additional resources of time and personnel, to complete the work as soon as possible;

d)  the Audit Plan for 2022/23 will include similar coverage to that of the current year;

e)  whilst a complete Head of Audit Opinion will not be available as per the agreed schedule, it will be available for inclusion in the Annual Report which is submitted to the June meeting of the Committee.

Resolved

1)  to note the update on progress against the Audit Plan for 2021/2022;

2)  to approve the EMSS Audit Plan for 2022/2023.

o  Reason for the decision:

Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires local authorities to make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs and appoint a S151 Officer to have responsibility for those arrangements. In addition, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require local authorities to undertake an effective internal audit of their arrangements. The audits of the key areas recorded with the EMSS audit plan provides the section 151 officers within both partner organisations with some assurance in respect of the operation of the control environment.

o  Other options considered:

None as this is a legal requirement, as explained above.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

The Committee decided to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of this/ the remaining agenda items in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, as defined in Paragraph3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2021 for confirmation

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2021 were confirmed as a true record and will be signed by the Chair.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (NCC) and the Assistant Director – Finance, Strategic Property & Commissioning (LCC)  

This item does not contain any decisions that are subject to the call in.

Jill Turner, Business Development Manager for East Midlands Shared Services, presented the report which provides the Committee with an overview update on the people, customer, operational and technology priorities for EMSS.

Resolved to note the report as set out in the exempt minutes.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (NCC) and the Assistant Director – Finance, Strategic Property & Commissioning (LCC)  

Lucy Littlefair, Head of EMSS, presented the report which sets out the medium-term financial plan (MTFP), provides an update on the 2021/22 financial performance, and the final budgets for 2022/23 and the draft proposed budget for 2023/24 to 2025/26.

Resolved to approve the recommendations as set out in the report and expanded at the meeting.

• Reason for recommendations:

To provide the Joint Committee with the latest forecast position for 2021/22, the final budget for approval for 2022/23 and provide visibility on the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) up until 2025/26.

• Other options considered:

The requirement to provide budget forecast information to the Joint Committee is a key part of the financial management process and therefore, no other options were relevant.