Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 23 September 2024
Back to Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board — 23 September 2024 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board Date Time Venue Monday, 23 September 2024 15:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor John Gray, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Andy Doig, Convener, presided. In Attendance A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; R Smith, Climate Emergency Officer and Lead Officer (Chief Executive’s); G Lyons, Interim Head of Education (Children’s Services); C McCourt, Head of Finance & Procurement, R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, K Campbell, Interim Chief Auditor, C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Also in Attendance G Devlin, Partner & National Head of Internal Audit, Azets. Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
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1 Actions Monitoring Report - Dargavel Primary School There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive which provided an update on the open actions relative to Dargavel Primary School. The report advised that following the findings of an independent review into the circumstances of the errors in planning and delivery of primary school provision in the Dargavel area, a SMART action plan had been developed which detailed the Council’s response with a commitment that updates on this plan would be provided to future meetings of this Board. At a meeting held on 11 January 2024, the Accounts Commission was presented with a statutory S.102 report, circulated to Councillors on 5 January 2024, by the Controller of Audit on School Accommodation for Dargavel. In the report, the Commission set out its findings, alongside several issues on which it required further investigation. In response, the Council developed an action plan based on the recommendations. The report advised that at the meeting of the Council held on 29 February 2024, elected members considered a report on the outcome of the review of corporate governance arrangements by the Cross-Party Working Group and agreed a number of actions set out in that report. Council further agreed that those actions would be incorporated into the independent review response monitoring arrangements reported to this Board. Appendix 1 to the report provided an update on remaining open actions relative to the Bowles Independent Review Report, the Accounts Commission S.102 report and the actions relative to the report of the Cross-Party Working Group. Appendix 2 summarised all completed actions from each of the three reviews. Members expressed concern on the delay of update of information in relation to Edge Analytics. The Head of Service, Children’s Services was heard in explanation. It was agreed that the Director of Finance & Resources would look at the way the information was reported to the Board and a summary of activity would be included within future reports. DECIDED: (a) That the update provided in Appendix 1 relative to the Council’s progress with live actions be noted: (b) That the completed actions provided in Appendix 2 be noted; and (c) That it be agreed that the Director of Finance & Resources would look at the way the information was reported to the Board and a summary of activity would be included within future reports.
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2 Best Value thematic work – Workforce innovation There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Council’s external auditor report in relation to Renfrewshire Council’s workforce innovation. The report advised the Accounts Commission reported nationally on thematic aspects of local government bodies’ approaches to, and performance in, meeting their Best Value and community planning duties. The Commission had directed auditors to report on workforce innovation and how councils were responding to workforce challenges. Appendix 1 to the report outlined the external auditors’ (Azets) findings in relation to Renfrewshire Council and outlined key messages, detailed findings and suggested areas for improvement. The report also included an indication of planned management actions in response to the recommendations made by Azets. DECISION: That the Council’s external auditor report and accompanying action plan be noted. 3 Neighbour Disputes - Lead Officer Roz Smith Under reference to item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 22 August 2022, there was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the Board's review of Neighbour Disputes. The report outlined the key outcomes from the Estate Management workshop and set out the key findings and recommendations in the report to Council which formed Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: (a) That the outcomes from the Estate Management Workshop be noted; (b) That the key findings and the recommendations outlined within the report be approved; (c) That the report be approved for submission to the Council meeting to be held on 12 December 2024; and (d) That it be noted that the Lead Officer was grateful to all stakeholders who participated in the review.