Meeting Details

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion of, 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 receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.

Members are asked to agree the minutes, attached marked 4, of the Standards, Audit and Performance Committee meeting, held on 22 April 2021, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

This report, attached marked 5, brings the latest version of the Committee’s constitution to the notice of its Members.  It also asks Members to consider what training they wish to receive in order to fulfil their role on the Committee effectively.

The External Auditors will present the Interim Audit Findings Report 2020/21, to follow marked 6.

This report, attached marked 7, summarises the progress made to date against the improvements contained in the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) Improvement Plan 2020/21.

This report, attached marked 8, provides members with details of the work undertaken by Internal Audit for the year ended 31 March 2021.  It reports on progress against the annual audit plan and also provides the Head of Audit’s opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the organisation’s governance, risk management, and control processes when considering the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards or Guidance, as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

This report, attached marked 9, informs the Fire Authority of a one-year extension to the Internal Audit programme of audit work for 2021/22, as set out in the Appendix to the report.

This report, attached marked 10, provides an update on the monitoring of recommendations made by Internal Audit, which is undertaken by the Risk Management Group.  It specifically covers details about the progress made against outstanding recommendations.

This report, attached marked 11, updates Members on the status of risks on the Corporate Risk Register.

This report, attached marked 12, advises Members of summary details regarding the compliments and complaints received during 2020/21, with comparisons to the previous three years.

This report, attached marked 13, summarises performance against the Service Targets over the last year, the learning that has come from trying to meet them and the influence this performance data will have on the developing new performance standards for 2021/22.

The Committee is asked to receive and note the Pension Board Annual Report 2021, which is attached marked 14a.

Members are asked to receive and note the minutes of the Pension Board meeting, to follow marked 14b, held on 28 June 2021.

Members have a discretion to exclude the press and public from meetings of the Fire Authority in defined circumstances.  In view of the nature of business to be transacted, it is recommended that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied in all the circumstances of the case that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing this information, that Members formally resolve that 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 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee is asked to receive Appendix C to Report 11 – Corporate Risk Management Summary, attached marked 16, which contains exempt information.