Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 12 – Statement of Accounts 2013-14

Mr Derek Lawrence declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his wife was a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme through London Councils.  He was also a member of the Cabinet at the time when it considered the provision of back office services including the operation of SAP.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Primesh Patel declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a governor at Bentley Wood High School.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Kanti Rabadia declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he had a family member who was a Member of the Council’s Local Government Pension Scheme. 

Councillor Antonio Weiss declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a governor at Harrow College.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2014 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Members of the Committee queried why officers were not named in the meeting as having attended.  Members also commented that Members who were not a Member of the Committee should also be noted in the minutes, as this supported transparency.

The Committee asked the issues to be referred to the Director of Legal and Governance Services to review this for all formal Member-level bodies.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2014, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 12 September 2014.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put or petitions or deputations received at this meeting.

To receive references from Council and any other Committees or Panels (if any).

There were none.

To consider the establishment of and appointment of Members to the Sub-

Committees of this Committee for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

RESOLVED:  That the appointment of Members to the Assessment and Hearing Review Sub-Committees be agreed as set out in the list appended to the agenda.

To receive Standards items (if any).

There were none.

Report of the Director of Finance and Assurance

The Committee received a report of the Director of Finance and Assurance which set out the Council’s Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2013/14 and the Corporate Management Assurance Statement.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

The Committee received a report which proposed revisions to the Contract Procedure Rules.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Committee raised a number of queries which officers responded that they would need to obtain the relevant information and respond after the meeting.  Additionally some of the comments raised were useful and officers would re-word certain provisions to take the points raised into account.

A Member of the Committee commented that it would be difficult for it to approve the document prior to the amendments requested being made.  The Committee agreed to delegate its decision to the Chair and Vice-Chair, once the amendments had been made.  In the event of a disagreement between the Chair and Vice-Chair, the item would be re-presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the approval of the revised Contract Procedure Rules be delegated to the Chair and Vice Chair prior to their onward progression for approval to the Constitution Review Working Group and Full Council. 

Report of the Director of Finance and Assurance

The Committee received a report which set out the audited Statement of Accounts for 2013-14.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the report of the External Auditor on matters arising from the audit of the 2013-14 accounts for the Council and the Pension Fund be noted;

(2)               the Audited Statement of Accounts for the Council and the Council’s Pension Fund for the financial year 2013-14 be approved and the signing thereof by the Chair be authorised;

(3)               the Annual Governance Statement for 2013-14 be approved;

(4)               the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Chair, to make any final amendments to the Accounts arising from the External Audit prior to the signing of the accounts by the Auditor;

(5)               the Pension Fund Annual Report of 2013-14 be noted;

(6)               the Summary Statement of Accounts be noted.