Minutes for Audit Committee meeting, Nov 26 2008, 6.00PM official page

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 24 September 2008.

Resolved - That the minutes of a meeting of this Committee held on 24

September 2008 be noted and signed as a correct record.

Members are asked to consider any Personal/Prejudicial Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual members should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room and must not seek to improperly influence a decision in the matter.

None.

Resolved – That the appointment of Councillor Mrs Buttle, in substitution for

Councillor Thompson in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4 of the Council’s Constitution, be noted.

None.

Report by the Director of Finance and Business Services enclosed.

The Director of Finance and Business Services presented a report outlining progress in relation to the 2008/09 Operational Audit Plan as at 30 September 2008, together with a revised audit plan for the remainder of the financial year in light of the reduced level of resources due to staffing shortage.

Resolved – i) that the report be noted; and

                        ii) that reports regarding Cross Cutting Audits “Arrears” and                              “Partnerships” be submitted to the next meeting of the                     

                        Committee.

Report by the Director of Finance and Business Services enclosed.

The Director of Finance and Business Services presented a report updating Members on progress against the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan.

The Committee raised a number of issues which the Director of Finance and Business indicated he would investigate and report back to Members.

Resolved – i) that the report be noted;

                        ii) that approval be given for the items marked completed to be                        cleared.

Report by the Director of Finance and Business Services enclosed.

The Director of Finance and Business Services presented a report outlining the features and content of a Fraud Response Plan.

Resolved – That the Fraud Response Plan be approved.

The date of the next ordinary meeting of the Audit Committee is Wednesday 21 January 2008 at 6.00pm at the Town Hall, Preston.

It was reported that the next scheduled meeting of the Audit Committee is Wednesday 21 January 2008 at the Town Hall, Preston.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the

following item of business on the grounds that there is likely to be a

disclosure of exempt information which is described in paragraph of

Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 which is specified against

the heading to each item, and that in all the circumstances of the case the

public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in

disclosing it.”

Resolved -“That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there is likely to be a disclosure of exempt information which is described in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 which are specified against the heading to the item, and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.”

Report by the Director of Finance and Business Services enclosed.

The Director of Finance and Business Services presented a report detailing debts in excess of £5,000 submitted for write off by Revenue Services in the collection of Local Taxation (Council Tax and Business Rates), Sundry Debtors, and the recovery of Housing Benefit overpayment.

Resolved – i) That the four reported cases written off by the Director of         Finance and Business Services under delegated powers, be       noted; and

ii)         also note that at the same time two debts previously written off have    been resurrected and paid in full, as a result of credit balances created by recent reductions in rateable value.  Both companies had previously gone into liquidation.