Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils will be displayed in the meeting room. The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via the Community Governance team.

In respect of agenda item 10 Cllr Verdon declared a personal interest as she held a contract with Grant Thornton.

In respect of agenda item 10 Cllr Verdon declared a personal interest as she held a contract with Grant Thornton.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018 were accurate, and the Chair signed them.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018 were accurate, and the Chair signed them.

The Chairman will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Committee’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting will be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

The Chair noted that 2 members of the public had registered to speak, and some of their questions were relating to agenda item 12 and would be heard at that time.

The Chair invited a question about agenda item 6.

Mr Nigel Behan asked about the Partial Audit Update –  ...  view the full decision text for item 84.

The Chair noted that 2 members of the public had registered to speak, and some of their questions were relating to agenda item 12 and would be heard at that time.

The Chair invited a question about agenda item 6.

Mr Nigel Behan asked about the Partial Audit Update –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report following an audit to assess the adequacy of the controls and procedures in place for the concessionary fare travel scheme operating in Somerset by the Council. This was an update report to the Committee as the original audit had resulted in partial assurance.

Members were  ...  view the full decision text for item 85.

The Committee considered this report following an audit to assess the adequacy of the controls and procedures in place for the concessionary fare travel scheme operating in Somerset by the Council. This was an update report to the Committee as the original audit had resulted in partial assurance.

Members were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report that provided an update on the progress made in response to the partial audit recommendations following an audit in to the risk of care provider failure published in March 2018.

It was explained that, the Council had a statutory duty to support the needs of  ...  view the full decision text for item 86.

The Committee considered this report that provided an update on the progress made in response to the partial audit recommendations following an audit in to the risk of care provider failure published in March 2018.

It was explained that, the Council had a statutory duty to support the needs of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report that provided an update on progress made since an audit of the controls and procedures in place for the administering of direct payments by the Children with Disabilities team (CwD) in the Council.

It was noted that the audit had provided a partial assurance and  ...  view the full decision text for item 87.

The Committee considered this report that provided an update on progress made since an audit of the controls and procedures in place for the administering of direct payments by the Children with Disabilities team (CwD) in the Council.

It was noted that the audit had provided a partial assurance and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this final report following an audit of Contract Management in respect of children’s independent residential, fostering and education placements. It was noted the placements team, part of the wider Children's Commissioning team, was responsible for sourcing and negotiating the terms for individual placements based upon information provided  ...  view the full decision text for item 88.

The Committee considered this final report following an audit of Contract Management in respect of children’s independent residential, fostering and education placements. It was noted the placements team, part of the wider Children's Commissioning team, was responsible for sourcing and negotiating the terms for individual placements based upon information provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report, introduced by the Internal Auditors, that provided a thorough overview and general update of the progress made against the 2018/19 Audit Plan.

It was noted that for a variety of reasons there continued to be some slippage in delivering the Audit Plan heading in to  ...  view the full decision text for item 89.

The Committee considered this report, introduced by the Internal Auditors, that provided a thorough overview and general update of the progress made against the 2018/19 Audit Plan.

It was noted that for a variety of reasons there continued to be some slippage in delivering the Audit Plan heading in to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report that provided a collection of emerging audit topics for Members to consider. The Strategic Manager explained to the Committee that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) had considered both the role of the Audit Committees and Heads of Internal Audit across local  ...  view the full decision text for item 90.

The Committee considered this report that provided a collection of emerging audit topics for Members to consider. The Strategic Manager explained to the Committee that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) had considered both the role of the Audit Committees and Heads of Internal Audit across local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report introduced by the Risk Manager, that provided details of the latest position of each of the identified strategic risks to the Council achieving its objectives.

There was a discussion of the report, particularly Appendix 1, the Strategic Risk Report which listed 12 risks and the  ...  view the full decision text for item 91.

The Committee considered this report introduced by the Risk Manager, that provided details of the latest position of each of the identified strategic risks to the Council achieving its objectives.

There was a discussion of the report, particularly Appendix 1, the Strategic Risk Report which listed 12 risks and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To consider this report.

The Chair of the Committee invited 2 members of the public who had registered to speak on this item to address the Committee.

Mr David Orr, a Somerset resident, noted that the Value For Money report stated: "Reporting of financial performance to members should be transparent and understandable". I  ...  view the full decision text for item 92.

The Chair of the Committee invited 2 members of the public who had registered to speak on this item to address the Committee.

Mr David Orr, a Somerset resident, noted that the Value For Money report stated: "Reporting of financial performance to members should be transparent and understandable". I  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered an audit progress report and sector update from external auditors Grant Thornton. The Committee was reminded that the Council’s financial statements had received an unqualified opinion and the value for money conclusion had received an adverse opinion.

The report also contained an update on the Pension Fund  ...  view the full decision text for item 93.

The Committee considered an audit progress report and sector update from external auditors Grant Thornton. The Committee was reminded that the Council’s financial statements had received an unqualified opinion and the value for money conclusion had received an adverse opinion.

The report also contained an update on the Pension Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report about the function of the role of the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) as the current post holder would be leaving. The Director of Finance praised the current CIA for his considerable contribution and the Chair and other members of the Committee echoed those sentiments.

It  ...  view the full decision text for item 94.

The Committee considered this report about the function of the role of the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) as the current post holder would be leaving. The Director of Finance praised the current CIA for his considerable contribution and the Chair and other members of the Committee echoed those sentiments.

It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

To consider this report.

The Committee noted the report that listed future agenda items and reports for the first 2 meetings (31 January and 28 March) of 2019. There were 7 reports scheduled for each meeting.

It was further agreed that an update report on the Annual Audit Findings report tracker would continue to  ...  view the full decision text for item 95.

The Committee noted the report that listed future agenda items and reports for the first 2 meetings (31 January and 28 March) of 2019. There were 7 reports scheduled for each meeting.

It was further agreed that an update report on the Annual Audit Findings report tracker would continue to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

The Chairman may raise any items of urgent business.

The Chair, after ascertaining there were no other items of business, thanked all those present for attending and closed the meeting at 13:31.

The Chair, after ascertaining there were no other items of business, thanked all those present for attending and closed the meeting at 13:31.