To receive and if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2014.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report of the Investigations Manager - Report to follow

The Investigations Manager (Fraud Investigation Service)  submitted  the Fraud Investigation Service 2013/14 Annual Report. The report outlined the Council’s responsibilities towards tackling benefit related fraud that had been perpetrated against it; provided details of the teams’ performance during the period April 2013 – March 2014. The report also provided details of the outcomes of activity over this period and outlined the teams’ plans for 2014/15.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Council’s External Auditor - Report to follow

The Committee was informed that the audit was substantially complete with work being finalised in some areas before an Audit Certificate could be issued. This included obtaining and reviewing the financial management letter of representation.

RESOLVED –

(1)       That the report be noted.

(2)       That the Director of Finance, the Finance Team and all other staff involved in the audit, be thanked for their good work.

To consider a report  of the Director of Finance - Report to follow

Further to Minute No. 15 of the previous meeting held on 8 August 2014, the Director of Finance submitted a report presenting the redrafted Final Accounts for 2013/14, accommodating the changes previously  agreed.

RESOLVED –

(1)       That the Final Accounts for 2012/13, be approved.

(2)       That the Director of Finance and his team and the Council’s external auditor be commended for their efforts in producing these accounts.

To consider a report of the Audit and Assurance Manager

Further to Minute No. 9 of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2014, the Audit and Assurance Manager submitted a report providing the final version of the 2013/14 Annual Governance Statement.

The final version was substantially the same as the draft with only a small number of update  amendments in Section 5 Budget Monitoring.

RESOLVED: That the 2013/14 Annual Governance Statement be approved.

To consider a report of  the Director of Finance - Report to follow

The Director of Finance submitted the report to the Committee.  At a previous meeting the Committee had received a report setting out findings from the investigation relating to the Council’s budget monitoring arrangements. In response to the recommendations made in the report together with additional measures requested by Members, an Action Plan had been agreed to address specific issues raised.

The Chairman highlighted the need for posts to be identified alongside individuals on the action plan items to ensure there was a continuity of responsibility when people left the organisation. 

RESOLVED: That the Action Plan be noted.

To consider the following supplementing reports of the Executive Member for Finance and Director of Finance:

(a)        Revenue Budget Monitoring 2014/15 – Period 4 (April to July 2014)

(b)        2014/15 Revenue Budget Re-Alignment

(Members are requested to refer to their copies of the Agenda for the Executive meeting on 24 September 2014 for the above reports under Agenda Item 7)

The Committee received, for information, a joint report of the Executive Member for Finance and Director of Finance detailing the outcomes of the monitoring of the Council’s revenue budget for  period 3 (April to June 2014) and period 4 (April to July)  which had been previously  presented to the Executive.

RESOLVED – That the revenue budget monitoring information for the period April to July  2014, be noted.

To note a report of the Audit and Assurance Manager

The Audit and Assurance Manager submitted a report summarising the work of Audit and Assurance during the period April to June 2014 and providing on going assurance to the Council on the adequacy of its control environment.

            RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Audit and Assurance Manager.

The Audit and Assurance Manager submitted a report setting out the updated work plan for the Committee for the 2014/15 Municipal Year and outlining the areas to be considered at each of its meetings.

In response to a member’s question it was confirmed that the work on Reshaping Trafford was included within the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: That the 2014/15 work programme be noted.

RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the remaining item of business because of the likelihood of disclosure of  “exempt information” which falls within Paragraph 3 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as  amended.

The Committee considered a report on the forensic review carried out by the External Auditor on the internal investigation into the Council’s budget monitoring arrangements.

RESOLVED: That the review be noted.