ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 10 March 2005

PRESENT:

Councillors T.K. Thornber (Chairman); A.P. Collett; C.R. Davidovitz; Jo Kelly

11 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.
No such interests were declared by Members on this occasion.

12 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 December 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

13 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications on this occasion.

14 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations notified.

15 CORPORATE ANTI-FRAUD AND CORRUPTION STRATEGY

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to a draft anti-fraud and corruption strategy which consolidated existing policies and provided a framework for further development of the County Council's procedures. Members endorsed the approach set out in the report and its appendices, and underlined the importance of all - Members as well as Officers, reporting their concerns if they became aware of any impropriety.

RESOLVED:

(i) That approval be given to the adoption of the corporate anti-fraud and corruption strategy and related policies, as set out in Item 5 and Appendices A, B and C.


(ii) That the continuing development of Codes of Conduct (Appendices D, E and F) be noted, and that the documents be brought forward for approval to the Committee in due course.

16 INTERNAL AUDIT STRATEGY 2005/06 TO 2007/08

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to proposed changes in the internal audit strategy.

RESOLVED:

(i) That approval be given to the revisions to the internal audit strategy for 2005/06 to 2007/08.


(ii) That approval be given to the terms of reference for the internal audit service provided to Hampshire County Council, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

17 SOCIAL CARE ITEMS REFERRED FROM THE LAST MEETING

The Committee considered a detailed report of the Director of Social Services (Item 7(x) in the Minute Book) on several items which arose from the last meeting of the Committee. This report took the place of the interim report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer which had previously been circulated with the agenda papers.

The Deputy Director of Social Services attended the meeting for this item and gave a presentation on the action taken in response to the concerns expressed in the area of:

· contracting for Children's Services


· Regulation 38 Foster Carers


· financial irregularities at a home for older people.


The County Treasurer gave a further commentary which illuminated the problems and risks which the procedures, checks and controls in place would need to minimise. The Committee felt that prompt and effective management action was now required as a matter of urgency in order to protect the County Council's interests and secure long-term improvement in procedures.

RESOLVED:

Contracting for Children's Services


(i) That the County Treasurer, Director of Social Services and Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer be requested to review procedures and report back to the Committee's July meeting with specific proposals to improve procedures and rectify the defects set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report.


(ii) That the Director of Human Resources report back to the July meeting of the Committee on current disciplinary procedures involving, particularly, gross misconduct where the employee concerned is on sick leave and whether corporately, more robust procedures can be put in place in these circumstances.


(iii) That the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer write to the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to request that they supply as a matter of urgency information concerning which suppliers for domiciliary care for children and families have the necessary registration.

Regulation 38 Foster Carers


(iv) That the County Treasurer, Director of Social Services and Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer be requested to report back to the July meeting of the Committee with improved procedures to ensure that proper checks are made on family members to ensure that they are suitable as foster carers before any such placements are made, such review to cover the implications for children and carers if delays in checks mean that children cannot be promptly placed with foster carers.

Financial Irregularities at a Home for Older People


(v) That the County Treasurer and Director of Social Services be requested to report back to the July meeting of the Committee with a programme of checks, controls and training for inspectors which will provide early identification of problems in terms of financial monitoring or record keeping at residential homes.

18 BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND IT SERVICE AVAILABILITY

The Committee considered report of the County Treasurer and Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the question of secondary power supplies to the main computer centre and business continuity. The Committee welcomed the contents of the report and, with regard to secondary power supply, suggested that a business case for a possible standby generator should be prepared and come to a future meeting of the Committee when proposals for the reconfiguration of the computer centre came forward.

19 RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR AUTHORITY

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on proposed changes to the Constitution required to give effect to revised management and Governance arrangements for the River Hamble. It was confirmed that the proposals put forward by the Cabinet and agreed by the County Council envisaged a Harbour Board with a River Hamble Harbour Management Committee, and the abolition of the River Hamble Harbour Advisory Committee

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be asked to endorse the proposed changes to the Constitution and the terms of reference and protocol for the River Hamble Harbour Board and River Hamble Harbour Management Committee, as set out in Appendices 1-4 to the report, and submit these to full Council for approval.

20 SOUTH DOWNS JOINT COMMITTEE - PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) and it was

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be asked to endorse the following proposed change to the Constitution set out below and submit it to full Council for approval:-

That, with effect from May 2005, the following amendment be made to the Constitution, Part I: Chapter 11, paragraph 11.2 (Statutory Joint Committees) by the addition of the following:

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