Governance Committee
MINUTES of a meeting of the Governance Committee held at Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes on 25 June 2024.
PRESENT Councillors Keith Glazier (Chair), Nick Bennett, Bob Bowdler, Chris Collier and David Tutt
ALSO
PRESENT Councillors Anne Cross, Godfrey Daniel,
Johnny Denis (via MS Teams), Stephen Shing and Colin
Swansborough.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2024
1.1
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting of the
Committee held on 16 April 2024 be confirmed and signed as a
correct record.
2. REPORTS
2.1 Copies
of the reports referred to below are included in the minute
book.
3. External Audit Update: Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 and 2022/23
3.1 The Committee considered a report by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the Grant Thorton (GT) report on the audit opinion on the 2021/22 and the 2022/23 Statement of Accounts.
3.2 The
Committee RESOLVED to:
1) note the
Independent Auditor’s (GT) Report to those charged with
governance on ESCC Accounts for 2021/22 and the audit
completion;
2) note the
Independent Auditor’s (GT) Report to those charged with
governance on ESCC Accounts for 2022/23 and the audit completion;
and
3) note that the updated 2021/22 and 2022/23 Statement of Accounts have been published on the Council’s website.
4. Appointments to Outside Bodies: Local Levelling Up Partnership Boards
4.1 The
Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities,
Economy and Transport regarding the appointment of a councillor to
the Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) Boards in Hastings, Bexhill and
Eastbourne.
4.2 It was
proposed that Councillor Daniel be appointed to the Hastings LUP
Board, which was seconded. The vote was lost (by 3 votes to
2).
4.3 It was
proposed that Councillor Tutt be appointed to the Eastbourne LUP
Board, which was seconded. The vote was lost (by 3 votes to
2).
4.4 The
Committee RESOLVED to:
1) appoint
Councillor Peter Pragnell (by 3 votes to 2) to the Hastings LUP
Board as a Council representative until the date of the Annual
Council Meeting in May 2025.
2) appoint
Councillor Penny di Cara (by 3 votes to 2) to the Eastbourne LUP
Board as a Council representative until the date of the
Annual Council Meeting in May 2025.
3) appoint
Councillor Ian Hollidge to the Bexhill Town LUP Board as a Council
representative until the date of the Annual Council Meeting in May
2025.
5. Appointments to outside bodies: East Sussex Fire Authority
5.1 The
Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive
regarding the appointment of a Councillor as a Council
representative to the East Sussex Fire Authority.
5.2 The Committee RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Peter Pragnell to the East Sussex Fire Authority to replace Councillor Roy Galley.
6. Appointments to Outside Bodies: Police and Crime Panel
6.1 The
Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive
regarding the appointment of a second Council representative to the
Sussex Police and Crime Panel.
6.2 The Committee RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Ian Hollidge as a second representative on the Sussex Police and Crime Panel, and Councillor Philip Lunn (substitute) for a one year period.
7. Scrutiny Activity Review
7.1 The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive that provided an overview of the scrutiny activity being undertaken by the People, Place and Health Overview Scrutiny Committees and an update on the work of the Audit Committee.
7.2 The Committee RESOLVED to note the updates on recent scrutiny and Audit Committee activity and the current work programmes at appendices 1-4 of the report.
8. Flexible Retirement Policy
8.1 The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer on the proposed introduction of a flexible retirement policy.
8.2 The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to agree:
1) the implementation of a flexible retirement
scheme for employees (excluding those on Teaching terms and
conditions); and
2) that the Local Government Pension Scheme Employer Discretions Policy is updated accordingly as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report.
9. Amendment to the Constitution: Scheme of Delegation to Officers
9.1 The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport regarding proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers.
9.2 The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to agree to amend the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.
10. Amendment to the Constitution - Employee Code of Conduct
10.1 The Committee received a report by the Chief Operating Officer regarding proposed amendments to the Employee Code of Conduct.
10.2 The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council to agree the following amendments to the Constitution, which relate to the Employee Code of Conduct:
1) additional wording to formally confirm that
employees must not access the records of relatives or friends who
receive services from the council; and
2) minor amendments and clarifications as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.
11. Appointment to the Pension Board
11.1 The Committee
considered a report by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the
appointment of a representative to the Pension Board.
11.2 The Committee RESOLVED to appoint Linda Hughes as an Employer Representative on the East Sussex Pension Board for the period 25 June 2024 to 24 June 2028.