Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 233 - 238) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 233 – 238) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Head of Finance introduced the report which reviewed the mid-year outturn position on treasury management transactions for 2014/15, including compliance with treasury limits and Prudential Performance Indicators.  He drew Members’ attention to paragraph 2.5 in the report and circulated graphical information from Arlingclose, the Council’s treasury advisors.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That the performance information in the report be noted.

(2)  That the possible reduction in our minimum acceptable credit returns for bank deposits be noted.

Mr Ian Murray (Engagement Lead, Grant Thornton), introduced the Annual Audit Letter which summarised the key findings from the work carried out by Grant Thornton for the Council for the year ended 31 March 2014.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Annual Audit Letter for Swale Borough Council be noted.

Mr Trevor Greenlee (Manager, Grant Thornton) introduced the Audit Committee Update which reported on progress with delivering Grant Thornton’s responsibilities as the Council’s external auditors, and included a summary of emerging national issues and developments that may be relevant to the Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Audit Committee update be noted.

The Head of Audit Partnership introduced the report which provided an update on work conducted by the Internal Audit service for the first half of the year.  He explained that the scope of the report had been expanded and drew Members’ attention to the key messages contained within the report.

Members thanked the Head of Audit Partnership for a well-written and easy-to-read report and a thorough and informative introduction.  They congratulated the Internal Audit Team on their hard work and the improvements made to the service over the past year.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the results of the work of the Internal Audit Team for the first half year, as shown in the report, be noted.

(2)  That the revised operational audit plan for the remaining year, as outlined in the report, be noted.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Audit Committee draft work programme 2014/15 be noted.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

1. Information relating to any individual.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.

7. Information relating to any action taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of any crime.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

Paragraph 1 – information relating to any individual.

Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Paragraph 7 – information relating to any action taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of any crime.

The Chairman introduced the investigation summary report.  The Head of Finance and Head of Audit Partnership gave assurances that revised internal procedures had been implemented to address issues arising from the investigation, and they would continue to brief the Audit Committee Chairman. 

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the report be noted.