Agenda and minutes

12.1     RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 25 June 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

13.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

14.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive on the annual review of the Corporate Governance Framework for 2018/19. The Assistant Chief Executive informed that Committee that the report had been considered by the Audit Committee on 12 July and the Committee wished to make 2 comments

1)    The Committee requested that for future reports further context/explanation should be provided regarding the table in Appendix 1. The Assistant Chief Executive confirmed that further detail would be included in the report for 2019/20; and

2)    The Committee requested that further detail be provided regarding the first action point under Adult Social Care and Health on page 15 of the agenda. The Assistant Chief Executive proposed that the following sentence be added to this action point

These collective arrangements are intended to improve governance and delivery of plans on a whole system basis for the population of East Sussex, whilst ensuring clear oversight and reporting to the constituent member organisations’ governing bodies, who remain statutorily accountable for setting their respective priorities and budgets.

14.2The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)   approve the action plan for the next year;

2)   note that  items identified to enhance governance arrangements are reflected in Business Plans and that implementation will be monitored through the year;

3)   confirm that Members are satisfied with the level of assurance provided to them through this report and the Council’s governance framework and processes;

4)   noted the comments from the Audit Committee as set out above;

5)   confirm that there are no further significant governance issues that should be included in the Council’s Annual Governance Statement; and

6)   approve the Annual Governance Statement for signature by the Leader and the Chief Executive and publication within the Statement of Accounts subject to the inclusion of the additional wording proposed above

Report by Chief Finance Officer

15.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the Grant Thornton report on the audit opinion on the 2018/19 Statement of Accounts. The Chief Finance Officer reported that an amendment to the report was required as follows: On page 34 of the agenda pack, the second paragraph under the heading ‘Financial governance - savings plans’ contains the following sentence ’The temporary shortfall in year was compensated by £7.3m of additional one-off savings and the use of £1.6m of reserves’. This should be replaced by the following ‘The temporary shortfall in year was compensated by £7.3m of one-off funding and the use of £1.6m of reserves’.

15.2The Committee RESOLVED to –

1)            note the Independent Auditor’s (GT) Report to those charged with governance on ESCC Accounts and the Value for Money conclusion report, including the amendment referred to above;

2)            authorise the Chief Finance Officer to sign the formal Letter of Representation to GT UK LLP; and

3)            approve the 2018/19 Statement of Accounts for publication.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

16.1     The Committee considered a report By the Chief Finance Officer regarding the appointment of vice chairs to the East Sussex Pension Board.

16.2     The Committee RESOLVED to appoint Diana Pogson and Stephen Osborn as vice chairs of the East Sussex Pension Board as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report.