Archived decisions

Item 2

AT A MEETING of the GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 27 October 2005

PRESENT:

p Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE (Chairman)

Also present: Councillor J.K. West, Chairman of the County Council.

12 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.

13 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 July 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

14 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman had no communications on this occasion.

15 DEPUTATIONS

No deputations had been notified under Standing Order 21.

16 HUMAN RESOURCES - INTERNAL AUDIT OPINION

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Human Resources (Item 5 in the Minute Book) in response to issues raised in the Internal Audit Opinion 2004/05. The Director of Human Resources gave an outline of the action being taken in response to concerns raised, and the County Treasurer indicated that good progress was being made; the Internal Audit Section would continue to monitor implementation and act as a critical friend. Members accepted that the centralisation of human resources represented a fundamental change in the way of working between departments which inevitably generated some difficulties which were in the process of being overcome.




RESOLVED:

That the Governance Committee notes the progress made in addressing audit concerns, as summarised in the report (Item 5) and requests a further report on progress to a future meeting.

17 RISK MANAGEMENT

The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation by Michelle Smith, Chief Executive's Department (Item 6 in the Minute Book).Members endorsed the logic of the approach set out in the presentation, which sought the control and management of risk in order to achieve public confidence in effective services and business continuity in the event of emergency.

18 PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION - POLICY FRAMEWORK

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on a proposed amendment to the Constitution.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Cabinet and the County Council

That the following amendment be made to the Constitution Part I Chapter 4, Paragraph 4.01(c):

Delete the existing list of plans specified under sub-section (c) and replace with:

(c) Agreeing and adopting the following plans and strategies (policy framework):

Community Strategy
Performance Plan
Plans and Strategies that together comprise the Development Plan

These are the other plans and strategies that the Council has agreed should be adopted as a matter of local choice:

Corporate Strategy
Children and Young People's Plan
Local Transport Plan

19 ELECTORAL COMMISSION CONSULTATION PAPER ON PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEWS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 8 in the Minute Book) setting out proposed responses to the consultation. Members reiterated their opposition to two-member wards and stressed the importance they attached to community identity, which in their view was a far more significant factor than the rigid, numerical approach to electoral equality pursued by the Electoral Commission. On question 7 they expressed the firm view that in two-tier areas the review of electoral divisions and wards for County Council and district councils should be conducted simultaneously as the current method of doing these reviews in sequence or was illogical and confusing for all concerned, particularly the public.

RESOLVED:

That the responses to the Electoral Commission Consultation Paper on Periodic Electoral Reviews as set out in the report at item 8 be approved for submission to the Local Government Association and the Electoral Commission, subject to the response on question 7 being amended to read

"Reviewing the County Council and Hampshire District Councils' ward boundaries simultaneously is considered to be the most practical and effective way forward. This will be more straightforward than a recent review in Hampshire which was undertaken only after that for the districts. Ward boundaries and county electoral division boundaries should be considered in tandem. It will be much easier to maintain public interest if the two reviews are conducted simultaneously and the outcome is likely to be improved, community cohesion and understanding on the part of the electorate."

20 ROLE OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS ON THE STANDARD COMMITTEE

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Corporate and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the part played by independent Members in the work of the Standards Committee. They also had before them a supplementary report (Item 9x) on the views put forward by Members at an informal meeting of the Standards Committee held on 25 October 2005. The Committee considered that elected Members should be clearly accountable for their own standards of behaviour, and with this in mind were opposed to any extension in the role of Independent Members. They therefore

RESOLVED:

That no change be made in the present membership of the Standards Committee which should continue to comprise 6 elected Members and 2 Independent Members, with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to be appointed from amongst the County Councillors.

21 INTERNAL AUDIT - PROGRESS REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on salient issues which had arisen from the internal audit process. The County Treasurer gave an outline of the practical and operational implications of investigating irregularities. In general terms, he reported that Chief Officers responded positively to audit findings and that agreed improvement plans were promptly implemented.

RESOLVED:

That the Governance Committee notes the progress of internal audit work during 2005/06 and the key issues arising from that work.

22 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of paragraph 14 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting.

23 INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT (CONFIDENTIAL)

The Committee considered confidential Appendix B of the County Treasurer's report on internal audit issues and noted the remedial action being taken in specific cases.

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