Agenda and minutes

Mrs Hannah Burbidge was welcomed to her first meeting of the Committee.

Councillor Cross declared an other interest with regards to Item 6 – Polling Station Review (School Governor).

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The Council’s External Auditors provided an update with regards to the audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts.  This had been delayed due to resourcing capacity and legacy audits.  A revised timescale for completion of the audit was on track.

RESOLVED:

That the updated be noted.

The Committee considered a report regarding the arrangements the Council must have in place to ensure compliance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and those arrangements were subject to inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO). This was achieved through the adoption of a set of Policy and Procedures that ensure compliance with the requirements of the legislation.

The Council has had arrangements and procedures in place for authorising and conducting necessary surveillance since 2002. Councillors should review the use of RIPA and set the policy at least once per year. They should also consider internal reports on use of RIPA periodically to ensure it is being used consistently with the policy and that the policy remains fit for purpose.

Members discussed the use of the Policy in a number of areas that included it’s application in relation to the use of social media.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council’s use of RIPA powers and the outcome of the October 2022 Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office Inspection be noted.

2.    That the updated Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Policy and Procedures attached at Appendix 1 be approved and adopted.

The purpose of the report was to allow members of the Committee to consider and endorse the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24, ensuring that its capital and treasury activities for the next four years are affordable and properly managed.

Members discussed the budget for the purchase of the Springs Shopping Centre, ethical investments and banking group limits.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2023/24 be recommended to Council for approval.

The report presented proposals to change the location of a number of polling stations in the Borough of High Peak following a review of current locations and to improve voter experience. Any changes to polling stations as a result of this review would come into force in time for the Local Elections in May 2023.  The sustainability implications for journeys to polling stations were discussed by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposals setting out changes to polling districts, polling places and polling stations as detailed at Appendix A of the report be approved, subject to there being no adverse comments received from the publication of the Returning Officer’s recommendations.

2.    That the revised arrangements take effect from 4th May 2023.

The report proposed amendments to the Select Committee Procedure Rules to allow for a revised process for the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of the Council’s select committees and to reflect the creation of the Select Committee Programming Group.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Select Committee Procedure Rules be approved.

The Committee considered the selection of the Mayor for the municipal year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:

That at its meeting on 21 February 2023 Council confirm that the Liberal Democrat Group be invited to make a nomination for the appointment of Mayor of the Borough and Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2023/24.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require the Council to “undertake an effective internal audit to evaluate the effectiveness of its risk management, control and governance processes, taking into account public sector internal auditing standards or guidance”. In accordance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards, the Audit Manager must report periodically to the Audit Committee on the internal audit activity’s performance relative to its plan.

The Committee discussed amendments to the Audit Plan that had been necessary due to changes to staffing levels and were based on risk.  These changes would have been presented to the Committee at its meeting scheduled to have taken place in September 2022 but was cancelled.

RESOLVED:

That the progress information contained within the report be noted.

The purpose of the report was to allow the robust scrutiny of the Council’s Treasury Management performance in 2022/23 in compliance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management and generally accepted good practice.

RESOLVED:

That the current Treasury Management position as at 31^st December 2023 be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be noted.