Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Kemp-Gee, Mocatta and Thacker. Councillor Brooks was in attendance as the Conservative deputy member.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code. Councillor House declared that he was a Board member of Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 February 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There were no deputations.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

There were no announcements.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Transformation and Governance – Corporate Services on the County Council’s use of surveillance.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Transformation and Governance (Item 6 in the Minute Book).

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services giving details on treasury activity during 2017/18.

The Committee considered the annual report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) regarding the performance of the treasury function during 2017/18 including the effects of any decisions taken and transactions executed throughout the year.

RESOLVED:

That the Audit Committee notes the following recommendations being

reported to Cabinet and Full Council:

i)             The approval of the addition of a further £0.5m to the Investment Risk Reserve created in the County Council’s accounts in 2017/18 as protections against the irrecoverable fall in value of any investments.

ii)            That the outturn review of treasury management activities be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services with an update on related party disclosure.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Resources – Corporate Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) regarding the return of related party declarations by elected members.

The Committee discussed the circumstances for the individual Councillor, as outlined within the report, who was yet to return their 2017/18 related party declaration. It was agreed to extend the deadline for the individual Councillor to the 30 June 2018 as outlined in the resolution below.

Discussion was also held regarding the current procedure used when collecting declarations and members did not suggest any amendments to the current approach.

RESOLVED:

The Audit Committee agreed that:

i)             The current County Councillor who, as at 30 June 2018 still has not returned their 2017/18 related party declaration to the Director of Corporate Resources, that Councillor will be referred to the Conduct Advisory Panel.

ii)            That there be no change to the approach used for the collection of declarations regarding related party transactions each financial year.

To consider a report of the Director of Transformation and Governance presenting the fee letters for the annual audit for 2018/19.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director of Transformation and Governance (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

To receive the non-exempt minutes of the Hampshire Pension Fund Panel and Board meeting held on 15 December 2017.

The Committee received and noted the non-exempt minutes of the Hampshire Pension Fund and Board meeting held on 15 December 2017 (Item 10 in the Minute Book).

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the exempt minutes.

The press and public were excluded from the meeting during the following items of business, as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during these items there would have been disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part I Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

To receive the exempt minutes of the Hampshire Pension Fund Panel and Board meeting held on 15 December 2017.

The Committee received and noted the exempt minutes of the Hampshire Pension Fund and Board meeting held on 15 December 2017 (Item 12 in the Minute Book).