Hampshire County Council HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors David Harrison, Karen Lucioni and Hugh Lumby. Councillor Fran Carpenter attended as a deputy for Hugh Lumby.

Members were mindful to disclose to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest was not already entered in the Authority’s register of interests, along with any other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in any such matter that Members wished to disclose.

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.

There were no deputations for the meeting.

The Chairman confirmed that the Principal Officer Pay Review report was due to go to the July Full Authority meeting.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 6 in the minute book) regarding the Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23.

Following a summary of the report by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer and questions by Members, the subsequent points were clarified:

·         The Director of Operations would provide further information to Members on the strategy with regards to electric and alternative fuel vehicles.

·         Further information would be found on the follow-up process to whistleblowing and the reporting of errors and faults and provided to Members

Members thanked officers for their work on the report.

RESOLVED

a) The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2022/23 as set out in Appendix A was approved by the  HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

b) Members acknowledged that the arrangements continue to be regarded as fit for purpose in accordance with the Framework 2016.

c) It was agreed that the approved AGS be included into the Annual Statement of Accounts, to meet the Authority’s statutory requirement.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 7 in the minute book) regarding the external auditors annual and audit planning reports.

The report was summarised and it was confirmed that a letter from Minister Rowley regarding the backlog experienced by external auditors had been circulated to Members for information.

The delays were being experienced nationally and it was anticipated that there may be subsequent delays to the 2022/23 audit, but it was positive that the 2021/22 accounts had been signed-off.

RESOLVED

The Auditor’s Annual Report for 2021/22 and the Audit Planning Report for 2022/23 from EY was noted by the  HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Internal Auditor (item 8 in the minute book) regarding the progress of internal audit.

The report was summarised and it was acknowledged that whilst there had been some delays, all actions were due to be completed imminently.

Page 118 of the pack was highlighted and it was confirmed that actions were logged and monitored closely for improvements.

RESOLVED

The progress in delivering the internal audit plans for 2022/23 and 2023/24 and the outcomes to date was noted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority Standards and Governance Committee.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Internal Auditor (item 9 in the minute book), providing the annual report and opinion.

The report was summarised and it was highlighted that a risk-based approach was taken looking at significance and risk to the Authority and as such the Authority’s risk register had been used to inform the planning process and ensure that key risks were reflected in planned work.

Members were happy with the report.

RESOLVED

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority Standards and Governance Committee accepted the Chief Internal Auditor’s annual report & opinion statement for 2022-23.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book) on the management actions progress report.

The report was summarised and Members were taken through the management actions in section 6 of the report. There were no questions.

RESOLVED

The Standards and Governance Committee noted the progress made towards the implementation of the internal audit management actions and the delivery of the audit plan.

The Committee received a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 11 in the minute book), which summarised the work of the Pension Board for the 2022/23 financial year in the exercise of its functions.

Members were given the history of the Board and why it was initially set up and it was confirmed that a briefing session would be provided to Members after the next meeting on the role of Standards and Governance Committees responsibilities as a Pension Scheme Manager.

RESOLVED

The content of the report was noted by the HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee