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 Audit and Performance Management Committee meeting, held on 15 September 2016, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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

This report, attached marked 5, puts forward a 2017/18 Work Plan for the Audit and Performance Management Committee for consideration and approval by Members.  The report also reviews implementation of the activities listed in last year’s Work Plan.

Members are asked to receive the External Auditor's Annual Audit Letter, attached marked 6a, which summarises the key findings of the work carried out for the year ended 31 March 2016.

This paper, attached marked 6b, reports on Grant Thornton’s progress in delivering their responsibilities as external auditors.  The paper also includes a summary of emerging national issues and developments that may be relevant to the Fire Authority.

This report, attached marked 7, informs the Committee of the changes in the timetable for preparing and approving the Statement of Accounts.

Following a report to the Committee in September 2016 regarding the appointment of external auditors from 1 April 2018, this report, attached marked 8, confirms Public Sector Auditor Appointments Ltd (PSAA) as a sector led body.  The Committee is asked to formally opt in to PSAA for the future appointment of external auditors.

This report, attached marked 9, recommends that the Fire Authority approve the programme of audit work for the financial year 2017/18 as set out in the report.

This report, attached marked 10, is the latest of regular risk summary reports to the Audit and Performance Management Committee.

This report, attached marked 11, summarises the progress made to date against the improvements contained in the Annual Governance Statement Improvement Plan 2016/17.

This report, attached marked 12, 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 13a, presents a summary of the Service's performance for the period April to November 2016.

In accordance with the request made at the July 2016 meeting of the Committee, officers will give a presentation on the following 2016/17 Service Targets:

All accidental fires will be reduced to not more than 519 during 2016/17

Accidental dwelling fires to be reduced to not more than 224 during 2016/17

This report, attached marked 13c, provides information regarding the ongoing performance and management in terms of the availability of wholetime and Retained Duty System appliances in Shropshire.

This report, attached marked 14, provides information on the performance of the Fire Authority controlled company, Shropshire Fire Risk Management Services Ltd.

Please note that the appendix to this report contains exempt information and will, therefore, be considered in closed session at item 16.

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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee is asked to receive the appendix to report 14 which contains exempt information.