Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

1.1           There were no changes to the membership.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

2.1      There were no declarations of interest.

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2022.

3.1      RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2022 be signed as a correct record of proceedings.

4.1      The Committee received a report regarding proposals to appoint an independent person to the Audit and Performance Committee. Members noted that the Government had set out its intention to make independent audit members compulsory across local government as they were seen to help strengthen the internal control and governance of authorities.

4.2      The proposed approach to recruitment and appointment of the independent person was set out and the Committee considered that with the projected level of service to the authority and the time necessary to fulfil the role a remuneration of £2,500 per annum was appropriate.

           RESOLVED:

That Council be recommended to:

1)        Approve the appointment of an independent person to sit on the Audit and Performance Committee for a period of four years;

2)       Agree to delegate to the Director of Law, in consultation with the Chair of the Audit and Performance Committee/General Purposes Committee, authority to finalise the role description, skills, competencies and person specification attached as Appendix A.

3)        Approve that the recruitment of the Independent Member be led by a panel consisting of the Chair of the Audit and Performance Committee, the Chair of the General Purposes Committee and a nominated Opposition Group member. The panel would be advised by the Director of Law, Director of Finance and Head of Governance and Councillor Liaison.

4)        Amend the Members’ Allowances Scheme to provide a remuneration of £2,500 per annum to the Audit and Performance Committee Independent Member.

5.1      The Committee received a report seeking agreement to amend the membership of the Westminster Scrutiny Commission.

5.2      The Committee noted how currently the membership of the Commission consisted of 5 members, 3 Majority group members and 2 Opposition group members. However, as there were four Policy and Scrutiny Committees the current membership meant that the Chair of one of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees was not represented on the Commission. To ensure that there was representation on the Commission from all of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees, Members agreed it was necessary to increase the membership of the Committee.

5.3      Following discussions the Committee agreed that it was appropriate to increase the membership to 7 members, 4 Majority group members and 3 Opposition group members. It was considered that this would not only allow all the Policy and Scrutiny Committees to be represented but would also ensure the principles of the Committee proportionality rules agreed by the Council were met.

           RESOLVED:

           That Council be recommended to agree to amend the size of the Westminster Scrutiny Commission from 5 members to 7 members.