Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Audit Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 24 March 2010 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Audit was submitted, advising Executive of the Council’s risk management progress and seeking approval to the updated corporate risk register.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting of 24 March 2010 and their support and comments were noted.  Executive noted the Committee’s support for the City Council’s case that it should receive a full financial settlement from Devon County Council in respect of any additional costs that the City Council would incur by the transfer of waste to Heathfield. The Director Community and Environment reported that Devon County Council had agreed to cover all “reasonable” costs in respect of the transfer of waste to Heathfield. However the County Council was in the process of seeking planning permission for a site in closer proximity, to the east of Exeter, and it was likely that the agreement would need to be re-negotiated.    It was hoped to avoid an expensive, long and uncertain arbitration process.

Executive approved the annual Corporate Risk Register.

The report of the Head of Audit was submitted, advising Executive of the Council’s risk management progress and seeking approval to the updated corporate risk register.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting of 24 March 2010 and their support and comments were noted.  Executive noted the Committee’s support for the City Council’s case that it should receive a full financial settlement from Devon County Council in respect of any additional costs that the City Council would incur by the transfer of waste to Heathfield. The Director Community and Environment reported that Devon County Council had agreed to cover all “reasonable” costs in respect of the transfer of waste to Heathfield. However the County Council was in the process of seeking planning permission for a site in closer proximity, to the east of Exeter, and it was likely that the agreement would need to be re-negotiated.    It was hoped to avoid an expensive, long and uncertain arbitration process.

RESOLVED that the annual Corporate Risk Register be approved.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Audit – report circulated

Councillor P J Brock declared a personal interest as a Member of Devon County Council.

Councillor Martin declared a personal interest as an employee of Devon County Council.

The Head of Audit presented the report on the Council’s Corporate Governance Risk Register Annual Review and sought Members’ support to submit the updated corporate risk register to the Executive for approval.

Members’ attention was brought to the changes that had been identified in the risk register.

In response to Members’ questions regarding the loss of the Exeter Waste Transfer Station, the Director Community and Environment clarified that on 2 February 2010 the County Council had notified the City Council that it wished to revert to the original proposal made in 2004 of delivery of waste to Heathfield with effect from 31 March 2010. Although the timescales were tight, the necessary licences regarding the transfer of waste to Heathfield would be obtained by the 31 March 2010.

She stated that Devon County Council had now agreed to meet the majority of the additional costs that the City Council would incur by the delivery of waste to Heathfield although there were some issues still to resolve such as recompense for the cost of wear and tear on vehicles. Devon County Council and the City Council were working together on the transfer of waste to Heathfield to ensure that an acceptable solution was reached.

Members were informed that the Head of Waste, Engineering and Transport Services, Devon County Council had attended and addressed the Scrutiny Committee – Community on 9 March 2010.

Members asked that Executive note the Committee’s support for the case that the City Council should receive a full financial settlement from Devon County Council in respect of any additional costs that the City Council would incur by the transfer of waste to Heathfield.

The Scrutiny Committee - Resources:-

(1)        reviewed the updated Corporate Risk Register; and

(2)        approved submission of the annual corporate risk register to the Executive.

(Report circulated)