Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved, subject to amendment.

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Governance & Audit Committee were approved as a correct record, subject to the following: -

Amend Minute No.43 – Annual Review of Performance 2021-22 to read: -

‘Resolved that the item be deferred to allow the report to proceed through the Scrutiny process prior to being reported to a future Governance & Audit Committee.’

Noted the comments of Councillors who requested that the report be presented to the next Committee meeting, if possible.

For information.

Councillor Peter Black, Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee presented ‘for information’ the Scrutiny Annual Report 2021-22 and Scrutiny Work Programme.

It was outlined that the report supported the development of a strong relationship between Scrutiny and the Governance & Audit Committee by providing the recently published Scrutiny Annual Report 2021-22 and information regarding the Scrutiny Work Programme.

He expressed concern regarding Councillor attendance at Scrutiny panels and the staff resources supporting the Scrutiny process.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·       Proposals which had been initiated to improve Councillor attendance at Scrutiny panels / Corporate Delivery Committees.

·       The differing roles of Scrutiny and Corporate Delivery Committees, particularly the description contained within the Scrutiny Dispatches report.

·       Avoiding duplication between Scrutiny and Corporate Delivery Committees, whilst recognising that overlaps in work would occur.

·       The ongoing work of Audit Wales with regards to reviewing the Scrutiny process / risk within the Council and the positive report received during the previous review.

·       Previous successes enjoyed by Scrutiny on a national level.

The Chair noted the Scrutiny arrangements being organised by the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee in introducing an overview and scrutiny sub-committee in addition to a Governance and Audit Committee.

She thanked the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee for presenting the report.

Noted.

Chris Bolton, Non Jenkins, Audit Wales and Marlyn Dickson, Strategic Change Programme Manager provided a joint presentation on Coming out of Covid.

Details provided in the presentation included: -

·       Structure

·       Testing a different approach

·       Listening trios

·       Key findings

·       I’m better at my job, and a better parent

·       Did we answer the question?

·       What happens next?

The Committee asked questions of the presenters, who responded accordingly.  Discussions were on the following: -

·       Positives / negatives found.

·       The excellent use of listening trios and the key message that one size fits nobody.

·       Highlighting good practice and how staff helped in different areas of the Council.

·       Exploring the next stage of the process.

·       The high level of output for the Committee to deliberate and the need for the detail behind it to be provided.

·       Whether the Authority used resources effectively during the period, the need for additional detail for any conclusions on effectiveness to be made and circulating to the Committee the more detailed presentation presented to Corporate Management Team.

·       Assurance provided that resources were used effectively throughout the Pandemic.

·       The sample size used.

The Chair thanked the Officers for providing the presentation and noted that the findings were positive but required further expanding in order for the Committee to have assurance.  

For information.

The Governance & Audit Committee Action Tracker was reported ‘for information’.

The Chair requested an update regarding Minute No.76 from 8 February 2022 on the new corporate risk of WCCIS and the availability of Domiciliary Care.

For information.

The Governance & Audit Committee Work Plan was reported ‘for information’.

The Committee queried when the Audit Wales Financial Statement / ISA 260 report would be presented.  The Director of Finance added that the reports would be presented with the Statement of Accounts 2021-22, which he anticipated would be ready early in the New Year due to ongoing local and national technical difficulties.

The Committee also requested that the Annual Review of Performance 2021-22 be reported to the next meeting on 9 November 2022, whilst being mindful of the number of items being reported to each meeting.