Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor Whittington, and the appointment of Councillor Gordon for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note, no other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of business.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager in advance of the meeting.   (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 31 January 2023.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2023 be received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Residents of West Lancashire on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submission is 10.00am on Friday, 26 May 2023.

There were no items under this heading.

Consideration was given to the Audit Progress Report and Sector Update year ending 31 March 2023 from our External Auditors Grant Thornton, which provided a summary of emerging national issues and relevant issues that the committee might wish to consider.

The Chairman welcomed and invited Georgia Jones, Director, Grant Thornton,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources submitted a report advising Members of the outcome of the external assessment of internal audit's conformance to the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (the review).

The Chairman invited the Internal Audit Manager to present the report.

The Committee considered the Internal Audit Charter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources submitted a report advising Members of the outcome of the external assessment of internal audit's conformance to the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (the review).

The Chairman invited the Internal Audit Manager to present the report.

The Internal Audit Manager said that overall,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources submitted a report to provide Members with the background to the preparation of the 2023/24 Internal Audit Strategy and Annual Plan and present it for approval.

The Chairman invited the Internal Audit Manager to present the report. She explained that the team was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources submitted a report to advise Members of progress against the 2022/23 Internal Audit Plan.

The Chairman invited the Corporate Compliance & Governance Manager to present the report. She explained that the work was now 98% completed and that weekly reports in relation to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Property submitted a report asking Members to consider the proposed Procurement Policy.

The Chairman invited the Procurement Manager to present the report.

Members asked about who monitored the service and what penalties were built into tenders and contracts. The Procurement Manager explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider the report of the Legal and Democratic Services Manager.

The Legal and Democratic Services Manager submitted a report on the Council's use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Power's Act (RIPA) and to present the RIPA Policy document for approval.

The Committee considered the RIPA Activity and RIPA Policy as contained on pages 647-675 of the Book  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Consideration was given to the Committee's 2023/24 Work Programme as set out on page 677 of the Book of Reports.

Members asked about a possible joint presentation on the final accounts and the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services said that he would take this up but had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.