Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG
Contact: Matthew Mannion, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4651 Email: matthew.mannion@towerhamlets.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Commissioner Alan Wood.
Apologies were also noted from the following Members and officers: Councillors: Sirajul Islam, Rachel Blake, Josh Peck, Amy Whitelock-Gibbs, Clare Harrisson and John Pierce Officers: Steve Halsey, Melanie Clay, Debbie Jones, Luke Addams and Aman Dalvi.
|
|
Note: Councillors Rachel Saunders and David Edgar were absent from the meeting between 6.30pm and 6.47pm to attend to another meeting.
|
|
DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS PDF 70 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer. Minutes: No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.
|
|
UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 111 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Best Value Review Board Quarterly Meeting held on 21st October 2015. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2015 were approved as a correct record.
Matter Arising Commissioner Max Caller noted that the action at minute 6.1 that “an action plan for future elections would be drawn up and presented to the Board at a future meeting” had not been presented as part of the Best Value Action Plan progress report (agenda item 4.1) nor incorporated into the Best Value Programme Review Board (BVPRB) Forward Plan.
The Chair requested that the action outstanding be added to the BVPRB Forward Plan.
The following update was provided in relation to Elections:
Action By: Will Tuckley, Chief Executive
|
|
REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
|
Best Value Action Plan PDF 151 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered the six-month progress update detailed at appendix 1 of the report and noted the following:
Progress with Delivery:
The Commissioners noted that some of outcomes achieved appeared to be focussed on the production of a policy. This, in their view, did not fulfil requirements necessary to move the council out of the Secretary of State’s directions as it was necessary to implement and embed them into the organisation in order to satisfy the aims of the directions and to sign them off. Commissioners were of a view, therefore, that some reported milestones had yet to be achieved.
Updates to secure compliance with the council’s best value duty were provided on the following areas of the action plan:
1. Procurement Action Plan Councillor Edgar, Cabinet Member for Resources informed the Board that: · there was evidence of good progress and milestones would be achieved on target dates · officer training has been used as a tool to address the culture previously in operation · the action plan had been administered efficiently by the Procurement Team hitherto and in addition the Service Head of Finance and Procurement post was shortly to be appointed to on a permanent basis.
The Commissioners: · noted that much work had been done on this best value area/theme and the action plan was being delivered successfully · suggested that this work be used as a model for other best value areas/themes which remained to be progressed · suggested that the work undertaken be presented at a Spotlight Session at a BVPRB Informal Meeting · agreed that the actions set out in the action plan all be presented at the May spotlight session.
The Chair requested that the Chief Executive co-ordinates the Senior Management Team to ensure that this good practice will be disseminated throughout the organisation.
2. Grants Action Plan Councillor Rachael Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member with special responsibility for Grants informed the Board that: · much work has been required to be done in regard to Third Sector relationships with the council and administration of grants · presently a draft Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy was under consultation with stakeholders.
Councillor Saunders thanked Commissioners for their engagement with her in this area and advised that after the recent change to the meeting schedule she would attend future Commissioners’ Decision Making pre-agenda Meetings as well as the six-weekly public meetings.
The Commissioners: · noted the progress reported · suggested that a formal Overview and Scrutiny role needed to be developed which should be consulted upon on a cross-party basis and incorporated into the action plan · wished explore how elected members might be co-opted into the grants decision ... view the full minutes text for item 4.1 |
|
Internal Audit Compliance Testing PDF 92 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Minesh Jani, Head of Audit and Risk Management, presented the report which concerned an audit of compliance in respect of the best value action plan for Procurement. The Board was informed:
Commissioners noted an issue of confidence raised by KPMG around the Council’s internal audit plan and, to ensure that there was consistency and vigour in the approach, recommended that the internal audit plan should correlate with the external audit plan and the Best Value Action Plans arising from the Secretary of State’s directions.
The Board was informed: · that there was correlation between the internal and external audit plan · internal audits on Grants and on Council Communications were almost ready for reporting to the Board. These audits would comprise both internal and external elements.
RESOLVED 1. That the findings of the Internal Audit report for Procurement and the ”Substantial Assurance” assigned be noted and 2. That it be agreed that the Board receive Internal Audit Reports for Property, Communications and for Grants when the audits have been completed.
|
|
Minutes: Will Tuckley, Chief Executive, presented the table which outlined the identified actions against each Best Value Theme and their forthcoming milestones.
The Board:
RESOLVED
1. That the report be noted 2. That an action plan for future elections be added to the plan
|
|
ANY OTHER UNRESTRICTED BUSINESS CONSIDERED TO BE URGENT Minutes: Nil items.
|