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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 the Full Council, except where these
functions remain the reserve of the Full Council or have been
delegated to another committee. Where a new or changed policy will
have a budget impact outside the budget approved by the Full
Council, this must be referred to the Strategy and Resources
Committee.
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 corporate 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, in accordance with Appendix 2. 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.
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 and Social Care 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
and projects.
n. Exercise the right
to call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet
implemented by any policy committee.
o. Work jointly on
the corporate governance framework with the Chairs of Standards and
Constitution and Strategy and Resources committees, incorporating
strategic planning, corporate risk and performance management.
p. Carry out the
council's responsibilities under Section 19 of the Police and
Justice Act 2006, to scrutinise the work of the Community Safety
Partnership (CSP) annually.
In carrying out its
responsibilities the committee will:
1. Work in partnership
with other policy committees, sub-committees and panels.
2. Scrutinise the
application of the Risk Management Strategy and oversee the
corporate risk register, key performance indicators and any other
actions relevant to the committee under scrutiny. The committee
shall raise risk issues and concerns with relevant policy committee
chairs.
3. Have oversight of
any matters of interest or concern relevant to this
committee’s remit.
To make
recommendations regarding:
a. Matters with
significant budgetary and/or policy implications arising from:
- Internal or External audit reports.
- 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.
- Presentations by
representatives of outside organisations about services which have
a significant impact upon local residents.
b. Consideration of any
Councillor Call for Action.
c. Changes to this
committee’s terms of reference.
d. 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 above with no significant budgetary and/or policy
implication.
b. Decisions to refer
matters to policy committees.
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