Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment welcomed Mr Huw Lloyd Jones and Ms Karen Lees from the Wales Audit Office (WAO) to the meeting.

Mr Jones explained that under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (the Measure) the WAO was required to report their audit and assessment work in relation to whether Flintshire Council had discharged its duties and met the requirements of the Measure.  He then presented the key points from the Improvement Assessment Letter which would be updated by the end of November 2013.

In closing, Mr Jones said there were no proposals for improvement in the letter.  He also commented on the positive relationship the WAO had with Members and officer of the Council. 

In response, the Chief Executive said the WAO Improvement Assessment Letter was a fair, evidenced and agreeable summary of the position of the Council with the letter being a positive endorsement of a transitional year for improvement planning supported by strong governance.

The Chief Executive provided details of the Executive Response, in particular commenting on meeting Welsh Government guidance and measuring objectives.  The Council had considerable underpinning background documentation within which measures and targets for achieving the priorities objectives were set.  Whilst it was accepted that this was not published in a single place alongside the Improvement Plan, it was important to note that 2013 was a transition year where the Council overhauled improvement planning to make it more meaningful and from 2014 this would be corrected.

On public engagement and consultation, the Chief Executive gave examples of recent consultation exercises on housing and schools issues. 

In response to the comments on the Council’s ability to deliver its improvement objectives, particularly on the plans which identified, in sufficient detail, the sources of efficiency savings or service cuts to meet the funding gap not being in place, the Chief Executive explained that processes were being improved whilst dealing with the financial cuts which had been announced the previous week.

On the Annual Governance Statement, the Audit Committee had agreed further improvements to the process of developing the Statement which would involve greater Member involvement.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Regulatory Programme for Performance Audit of the Wales Audit Office (WAO) for the period April 2013 to March 2014 be accepted;

(b)       That the Council’s Improvement Assessment Letter received from the Auditor General for Wales be received; and

(c)        That the report be noted and the Council’s Executive response be agreed.