Meeting Details

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter, in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

Members are asked to agree the minutes, attached marked 3, of the meeting of the Audit and Performance Management Committee, held on 7 July 2016, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members are asked to receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.

This report, attached marked 5, presents the completed Statement of Accounts for 2015/16 to the Committee for consideration and approval.

This report, attached marked 6, summarises the progress made to date against the improvements contained in the Annual Governance Statement 2016/17 Improvement Plan.

External Auditor Mr Stocks will attend to present the Audit Findings for the year ended 31 March 2016, attached marked 7.

The Chair of the Audit and Performance Management Committee, Chief Fire Officer and Treasurer (in accordance with the authority delegated to them by the Fire Authority at its meeting on 13 February 2012) will then sign the Letter of Representation for the year ended 31 March 2016, as required by External Audit.

This report, attached marked 8, summarises the changes to the arrangements for the appointment of external auditors, following the closure of the Audit Commission and the end of the transitional arrangements at the conclusion of the 2017/18 audits.  The Fire Authority will need to consider the options available and put in place new arrangements in time to make a first appointment by 31 December 2017.

Shropshire Council Internal Audit Service complies with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).  As part of this process the Service must develop and maintain a quality assurance and improvement programme (QAIP) that covers all aspects of the internal audit activity.  The QAIP assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal audit activity and identifies opportunities for improvement and includes both internal and external assessments.  This report, attached marked 9, provides members with an update on the External Assessment review planned in November 2016.

This report, attached marked 10, requests the Committee to recommend that the Fire Authority approve the Whistleblowing Policy (attached as an appendix), following the annual review conducted by officers.

This report, attached marked 11, presents the draft Annual Review (also known as the Annual Statement of Assurance) for 2015/16 and gives the Committee an opportunity to make comment on the draft, prior to its going forward to the full Fire Authority for consideration and approval.

This report, attached marked 12, is the latest of the regular risk summary reports to the Committee.

Officers will demonstrate a number of products that hvae been developed under the Service Transformation Programme.

This report, attached marked 15a, presents a summary of the Service's performance for the period April to September 2016.

As agreed at the July 2016 meeting of the Committee, officers will give a presentation on the following 2016/17 Service Target:

The first fire engine will arrive at an emergency incident with at least 4 firefighters within 15 minutes on 89% of occasions

This report, attached marked 15c, provides information regarding the ongoing performance and management in terms of the availability of Wholetime and Retained Duty System appliances in Shropshire.