Date: | Thursday 13 June 2013 | Time: | 6.00pm | Place: | Cross Room, Civic Centre, West Paddock, Leyland PR25 1DH |
Present: | Councillors Mr A Bradley (Chorley BC), Mr C J Clark (South Ribble BC), Mr M Crow (Chorley BC), Mr C P Hamman (South Ribble BC), Mr P Leadbetter (Chorley BC) and Mr S M Robinson (South Ribble BC) |
In attendance: | Garry Barclay (Head of Shared Assurance Services), Susan Guinness (Head of Shared Financial Services), Gary Hall (Chief Executive-Chorley BC), Mike Nuttall (Chief Executive-South Ribble BC) and Andy Houlker (Senior Democratic Services Officer-South Ribble BC) |
Public attendance: | 1 |
Other Officers: | Councillors W Bennett and Forrest (both South Ribble BC) |
Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
---|---|---|---|---|
OPEN ITEMS | ||||
1 |
Appointment of Chairman UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: (Councillor Hamman took the chair) |
Agreed | ||
2 |
Appointment of Vice-chairman UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed | ||
3 |
Apologies for Absence There were no apologies for absence. |
Noted | ||
4 |
Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest. |
Noted | ||
5 |
Minutes of the Last Meeting Minutes attached UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed | ||
6 |
Financial & Assurance Shared Services Annual Report 2012/13 Annual Report attached Addendum - Shared Procurement Service (334K/bytes) attached Addendum - Systems Development Projects (3M/bytes) attached The committee received its outturn report for 2012/13 which covered the fourth complete financial year of the partnership?s operation. Its attention was particularly drawn to the number of areas of success under highlights and achievements for 2012/13 on pages 5 and 6 of the report. Whilst another challenging year the partnership had continued to embed, maintain and improved service levels. It had also achieved significant savings despite a deteriorating financial climate. The partnership had to date since its creation achieved a recurring saving of circa ?553,000 and further savings had been identified for next year. In respect of the performance relating to payment of councils? invoices, the committee was impressed that 82% were paid within 10 days. It was wondered if it was possible to progress along the supply chain to enable the monies to be re-used in communities sooner. Turning to the key performance targets (pages 8, 9 and 10 of the report), 4 out of 14 for Shared Assurance Services and 2 out of 17 relating to Shared Financial Services were red (more than 5% off target). In respect of Shared Assurance Services these were mainly due to the reported reduced audit days in 2012/13, and for Shared Financial Services this related to underspend at both councils and also a planned breach of Prudential Indicators within the Treasury Strategy due to the fact that the Council had experienced a different cash flow pattern than that originally forecasted prior to the year beginning. It was clarified that there were no financial implications of this planned breach. Appendix 2 to the report contained details for each indicator. The committee noted the financial out-turn for 2012/13 indicated an underspend of ?83,000. The committee had also received two addendum papers providing some additional background information relating to activity/achievements during the year within the procurement team and systems development projects. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed | ||
7 |
Financial & Assurance Shared Services Annual Return 2012/13 Annual Return attached Annual Return - Appendix attached The committee received a copy of the completed Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2013. Whilst considering the annual return the discussion included the amount of the external auditor?s fee (?3,000). In particular when compared to the level of work involved in conducting the audit of the councils? financial and assurance shared services. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed | ||
8 |
Exit Management Plan Exit Management Plan attached As part of the councils? shared services agreement there is a requirement to produce and review an Exit Management Plan (EMP). Following the creation of the partnership in January 2009, the original EMP was approved in 2010 and overdue a review. Whilst the partnership was fully embedded within both councils and had delivered considerable efficiency savings it was prudent to consider and plan for a potential failure of the partnership to meet its objectives in the longer term and the EMP would enable a smooth transition to alternate arrangements. The main principle within the attached EMP document was fair and equal treatment so both councils were restored to the same position should the partnership be dissolved. In any event in accordance with the agreement, the partnership could not have been dissolved within the first four years (before January 2013). The report presented to the joint committee summarised and explained the content of the revised EMP. The committee appreciated the report and revised EMP being submitted, but it was suggested more detail (ie timetable/programme) be provided in the document relating to items such as; consider timing issues, identify the key issues and, the separation of budgets and assets. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed | ||
9 |
Forward Plan Forward Plan attached UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: |
Agreed |