Issue - meetings

To provide the Committee with updated Financial Procedure Rules for recommendation to County Council.

That the updated Financial Procedure Rules be endorsed and recommended to Council for approval.

The Strategic Finance Manager presented a report to provide the Committee with the proposed updated Financial Procedure Rules (FPR’s) for comment and endorsement prior to approval at County Council on 24 January 2023. She provided background information and reported that the FPR’s were considered and endorsed by the Governance and Audit Committee on 14 November 2022 and questions  were raised regarding some of the changes. Feedback from the Governance and Audit Committee was included in paragraph 1.10 of the report. 

The Strategic Finance Manager advised that the main changes to FPRs were set out in paragraphs 1.07 and 1.08 of the report.  The updated FPR’s were attached as Appendix 1 with tracked changes, which included a minor amendment following feedback from the Governance and  Audit Committee attached as Appendix 2.  Following approval of the FPR’s the Finance Team would continue to undertake awareness raising with management teams to ensure that managers and staff understand their responsibilities regarding the FPR’s and emphasis will be put on the requirement for all staff to ensure compliance.  Once approved, adherence to the FPR’s would be monitored by finance teams and any breaches or concerns reported to Chief Officers on a regular basis.

Councillor Bernie Attridge asked where information on the use of the corporate credit card by Members and officers could be located in the FPRs.  He also referred to paragraph 1.10 in the report and the question and response relating to ‘Further clarification sought on what is a “true copy” of an invoice. (h) P.41.  Councillor Attridge asked if this would assist with the problems relating to invoices and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).   He also referred to page 97 of the report, paragraph (i) and sought further information around the disposal of surplus, obsolete or defective items held in stock. The Corporate Finance Manager and Strategic Finance Manager responded to the questions and comments raised.  The Strategic Finance Manager agreed to provide feedback to Councillor Attridge on use of the corporate credit card following the meeting.  The Corporate Finance Manager confirmed that the FPRs applied to all Members and officers.

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Ted Palmer and seconded by Councillor Ian Hodge.

RESOLVED:

That the updated Financial Procedure Rules be endorsed and recommended to Council for approval.