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Meeting Details

Audit and Standards Committee
24 Apr 2019 - 10:30 to 11:27
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda Items
1 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
120
Apologies were received from Mr M Hart and Ms K Guthrie.
2 Named Substitutes
To receive details of any Member of the Authority nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.
121
There were no named substitutes.
3 Declarations of Interest (if any)
This item allows the Chairman to invite any Councillor to declare an interest in any of the items on this Agenda.
122
There were no interests declared.
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2019.
123
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Standards Committee held on 22 January 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the Audit Plan from the Authority’s External Auditor Grant Thornton UK LLP that sets out the work for the 2017/18 audit, to be undertaken in 2018/19.

124

The External Auditor presented Members with the Audit Plan that sets out the work that will be undertaken during the audit of the 2018/19 Accounts.

Members noted that the Authority faces significant financial challenges ahead, in particular with regard to pensions.

[Cllr Hardman entered the meeting at 10.38am)

RESOLVED that the External Audit Plan 2019/20 (2018/19 Accounts) be noted.

For the External Auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP, to update Members on progress with the audit of the 2018/19 Accounts.

125

The External Auditor presented Members with an Audit Progress report and Sector update which updated them on the progress in delivering their responsibilities as external auditors.

Members were pleased to note that the Fire Service has a 'clean bill of health'.

RESOLVED that the External Auditor's "Audit Progress report and Sector Update" be noted.

To make Members aware of the Audit Risk Assessment carried out by Grant Thornton UK LLP, the Authority’s External Auditor, in deriving the External Audit Plan 2019/20 in respect of the 2018/19 Accounts.

126

The External Auditor presented Members with the Audit Risk Assessment carried out by Grant Thornton UK LLP in deriving the External Audit Plan 2019/20 in respect of the 2018/19 Accounts.

Members felt reassured and thanked Grant Thornton for the work they had done.

RESOLVED that the External Auditor's "Informing the Audit Risk Assessment" report be noted.

To provide the Committee with a progress update on the 2018/19 audit plan delivery.

127

The Head of Internal Audit Shared Service presented Members with a progress update on the 2018/19 audit plan delivery.

Members were assured that there were no high priorities or risks to report and that recommendations made in regards to the reports produced throughout the year were being addressed through robust management action plans and in a timely manner.

Members were advised that a 'light touch audit' in future would provide a better coverage in less time. The Treasurer agreed that a 3 year cycle would enable a full audit of each area over the 3 years.

Members were pleased to note that the previous Gartan issues relating to payroll had been resolved.

The Head of Internal Audit confirmed that the Authority had good control which was helped by working closely with the management team.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To provide the Committee with the Draft Audit Plan for 2019/20.

128

The Head of Internal Audit Shared Service presented Members with the Draft Audit Plan for 2019/20.

Members noted that the Audit Plan had been agreed by the Treasurer and considered by the Senior Management Board in March and feedback had been included in the Plan.

RESOLVED that the 2019/20 Draft Internal Audit Plan be approved.

To update the Committee with details of compliments, complaints, concerns and requests for information made by the public to the Service over the past 12 months.

129

Members were presented with details of compliments, complaints, concerns and requests for information made by the public to the Service over the past 12 months.

Members were reassured that officers were satisfied that there were no significant levels of recurring themes or trends in the concerns and complaints being reported to give any cause for concern.

Members requested that any suggestions for improvements following the investigation of the complaint/concern be reported to future meetings.

Members were pleased to note that the Service received three times the amount of compliments than complaints/concerns.

RESOLVED that the Committee notes that during the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019:

i)     a total of 290 requests for information about the Service were received;

ii)    a total of 102 compliments and donations were received from the public;

iii)   33 complaints about Service activities were made; and

iv)   20 complaints or concerns were received about activities carried out by other organisations or individuals.

v)    None of the complainants appealed the response provided and no complaints were passed to the Local Government Ombudsman for investigation.

To consider evidence compiled during the self assessment review which provides the assurances that sit behind the Annual Governance Statement.

To put forward the Draft Annual Governance Statement 2018/19 for approval.

130

Members were presented with the Draft Annual Governance Statement 2018/19 for approval.

Members noted from the self assessment that the Authority had provided evidence of compliance with all the core and supporting principles of good governance. There were no areas where immediate action was required.

Members also noted that there were two areas (shown within Core Principles A and F) where the direction of travel improved during 2018/19. This was due to the review of the Whistleblowing Policy which was to be considered elsewhere on the agenda and the commencement of the Review of Financial Regulations.

Members were reminded that the Committee had delegated responsibility to approve the Annual Governance Statement which would accompany the Statement of Accounts. The Annual Governance Statement would also be published alongside the unaudited statement of accounts at the beginning of the period for public inspection, commending in early June.

Members thanked officers for the excellent work.

RESOLVED that the Draft Annual Governance Statement 2018/19 be approved.

To update Members on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).
131

The Treasurer updated Members on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI).

Members were assured that a final report would be brought to the next Audit and Standards Committee to provide final details in relation to creditor matching reports and any new reports published in the interim.

The Treasurer was pleased to inform Members that there had been no fraud for the past 7 years.

RESOLVED that the Committee notes the process of examining all National Fraud Initiative matches is underway and that no fraud has been detected in relation to the completed review of employee matches.

To report on the review of the Authority’s Whistleblowing Policy.

132

Members were presented with the Authority's Revised Whistleblowing Policy, which had recently been reviewed and updated.

Members were reminded that the Policy was designed for staff, contractors and the public to feel able to report any concerns they may have about improper conduct and to be confident their concerns would be investigated without fear of reprisal.

RESOLVED that the revised Whistleblowing Policy be noted.

This report details the gender pay gap in Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service). The Gender Pay Gap Report is also published on the corporate website and government’s reporting website.

133

Members were presented with data detailing the gender pay gap in the Service. Members were also informed that the data was published on the Service's website and the government's reporting website annually in accordance with legal requirements.

Members were made aware that this report was only for the Gender Pay Gap and not the Equal Pay Audit which measures whether men and women in the same employment performing equal work receive equal pay.

Officers were pleased to announce that a number of female candidates had been successful at the recent crew commander process and that the first female operational station commander had just taken up her role within the Service.

RESOLVED that:

 

i)   The gender pay gap figures be noted;

ii)  Progress to bridge the gender pay gap be monitored via the Senior Management Board (SMB); and

iii) It be noted that the Gender Pay Gap Report was published on the corporate website and government’s reporting website and includes a signed statement confirming the information was accurate.

To provide the Audit and Standards Committee with an update on the activities and items of significance from the Service’s Health and Safety Committee.
134

Members were presented with an update on the activities and items of significance from the Service's Health and Safety Committee.

A Member was concerned about decontamination facilities at fire stations. They were assured that all firefighting PPE was laundered by an outside company.

Members thanked officers for the excellent report.

RESOLVED that the following issues, in particular, be noted:

i)  Health and Safety performance information recorded during October to December 2018 (Quarter 3);

ii) The involvement of the Service in a number of Health and Safety initiatives.

 

To close the meeting, the Chairman expressed how pleased he was with the audit, maintenance and the general running of the Authority and thanked officers.

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for AbsenceSubstituted By
Councillor Ms Tracy Bowes  
Councillor Mr Steve Williams  

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Visitor Information is not yet available for this meeting