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 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 5 December 2019, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

This report, attached marked 5, asks Members to consider the Terms of Reference of the Standards, Audit and Performance Committee, following the annual review conducted by officers.

This report, attached marked 6, asks Members to review the Role Descriptions for the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards, Audit and Performance and for the Member Champion for Risk Management and Audit.

This report, attached marked 7a, gives the Committee an opportunity to make comment on the draft Code of Corporate Governance 2019/20, prior to it going forward to the full Fire Authority for consideration and formal adoption.

The Internal Audit Report on Corporate Governance 2019/20 is attached marked 7b.

This paper, attached marked 8a, sets out an overview of the planned scope and timing of the external audit, as required by International Standard on Auditing (UK & Ireland) 260.9/20

This report, attached marked 8b, contributes towards the effective two-way communication between external auditors and the Standards, Audit and Performance Management Committee, as 'those charged with governance'.  The report covers some important areas of the auditor risk assessment, where external audit is required to make inquiries of the Committee under auditing standards.

This report, attached marked 9, presents the accounting policies to be used in the production of the Fire Authority’s Statement of Accounts 2019/20, for consideration and approval.

This report, attached marked 10, requests the Committee to recommend that the Fire Authority re-affirm the Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy (attached at the appendix to the report), following the annual review conducted by officers.

This report, attached marked 11, summarises the progress made to date against the improvements contained in the Annual Governance Statement Improvement Plan 2019/20.

This report, attached marked 12, updates Members on the status of risks on the Corporate Risk Register.

This report, attached marked 13, 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 14a, summarises performance against the Service Targets over the last year, the learning that has come from trying to meet them and the plans for continuing to do so.

This report, attached marked 14b, presents the agreed Service Targets for 2020/21.

Whilst not a legal requirement, it is good practice for Members to receive regular updates on Code of Conduct complaints, even if there have been none.  Officers are pleased to report that, during the period 2019/20, the Fire Authority has received no complaints that any of its Members has breached its Code of Conduct.

Officers have carried out a review of the following protocols:

• Member / Officer Relations attached marked 15b(i) and
• Gifts and Hospitality, attached marked 15b(ii)

Minor amendments are proposed by officers and are shown in bold italics on the documents with any deletions struck through.

The Committee is also asked to review these documents and make recommendations accordingly to the Authority.

This report, attached marked 16, updates the Committee on Member development activity over the past year and proposes training and development activity for the year April 2020 to March 2021.

Members are asked to note the minutes of the Pension Board meeting, held on 26 March 2020, attached marked 17a.

This report, attached marked 17b, brings the Pension Board Annual Report 2019 to the Standards, Audit and Performance Committee for information.

This report, tattached marked 17c, asks the Committee to approve the Data Improvement Plan which addresses the key issues raised in the data quality review of the firefighter pension schemes that took place in 2019.

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 12 – Corporate Risk Management Summary, attached marked 19, which contains exempt information.