Committee details

10 members

Terms of Reference:

1.     To be responsible for the scrutiny and review of the decisions and performance of the Council;

2.     To carry out the functions falling within the Committee’s area of responsibility as set out below, working within the budget and policy framework approved by Council, except where these functions remain the reserve of the Council or have been delegated to another Committee within the Council’s scheme of delegation.

3.     To seek assurance of the existence and application of key policies and strategies as well as undertaking scrutiny of performance monitoring to evaluate whether expected outcomes are being achieved in accordance with the Council’s Strategic Plan.

4.     To establish Sub-Committees to progress work of the Committee.

5.     To decide on matters falling within its responsibility or delegate decision making to Directors of the council. However, this does not prevent the Committee from choosing to exercise the function itself.

Areas of Responsibility:

a.     Overall responsibility for audit and governance frameworks (including functions of an audit committee);

b.     Oversee compliance with the Council’s duties concerning Best Value;

c.     Monitor implementation of agreed recommendations and actions from both the Internal and External audit reports;

d.     Monitor progress on the Council’s Annual Plan on a quarterly basis;

e.     Review and approve the Annual Governance Statement;

f.      Exercise scrutiny over the Council’s budget; the management of its budget, capital programme, treasury management, reserves, revenue borrowing and assets and the audit arrangements thereof, plus associated strategy and policies;

g.     Exercise scrutiny of the quarterly budget monitoring reports;

h.     Exercise scrutiny and approval (where applicable) of the annual Statement of Accounts, financial outturn, and external audit reports;

i.      Receive an annual report setting out the activities relating to compliance with key council policies including (but not limited to) Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Whistleblowing policies, Modern Slavery and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion;

j.       Receive and review the Local Government Ombudsman’s annual report;

k.     Receive and review, on a quarterly basis, the latest version of the key performance indicators and targets from each Committee which seek to ensure the provision of cost effective, quality services to the community (as part of the Council’s own performance management regime);

l.      Review and/or scrutinise decisions made, or actions taken, in connection with the discharge of any of the Council’s functions and make reports and/or recommendations to full Council where necessary;

m.    Undertake, in specific circumstances, pre-scrutiny reviews relating to Council services, projects or services;

n.     Exercise the right to call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet implemented by any Policy Committee.

In carrying out its responsibilities the Committee will:

1.     Work in partnership with other Policy committees and Sub Committees.

2.     Have consideration to the Corporate Risk Management Strategy, Key Performance indicators and any other actions relevant to the Committee under scrutiny;

3.     Have oversight of any matters of interest or concern relevant to this Committees remit.

To make recommendations regarding:

a.     Matters with significant budgetary and/or policy implications arising from Internal or External audit reports.

b.     Matters with significant budgetary and/or policy implications arising from the reviewing and scrutinising of the performance of the Council in relation to its policy objectives, performance targets, Committee Work Plans and any Government sponsored assessment regime.

c.     Matters with significant budgetary and/or policy implications arising from presentations by representatives of outside organisations about services which have a significant impact upon local residents.

d.     Consideration of any Councillor Call for Action.

e.     Changes to this Committee’s Terms of Reference.

f.      Other matters under the Committee’s jurisdiction which, by virtue of statutory provision, must be determined by full Council.

To Resolve:

a.     Matters in connection with 2 (a) to (c) above with no significant budgetary and/or policy implication.

b.     Decisions to refer matters to Policy Committees.

Delegation to Officers:

1.     To the Chief Executive and Directors, the power to implement Council/Committee policies and deal with the day-to-day management of services relevant to this Committee, including the discharge of all functions of the Council, except for those which are identified above as reserved for determination by the Council, Committee or Sub-Committee.

2.     The officers referred to in 1. above have the power in turn to delegate to other officers of their choice, the power to deal on their behalf and in their name with any of the above functions. Such delegation shall be in writing and signed by the relevant SMT Member and may contain such limitations or be subject to such conditions as that Officer shall decide.

3.     Where committee delegated action has been taken by officers in 1. and 2. above, or the use of urgency powers has been exercised by the Chief Executive or Director this must be reported back to the Chair and Vice Chair at the next available meeting.

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