Agenda and minutes

14 July 2022

It was moved by Councillor Garry Purdy, Seconded by Councillor Stuart Lees and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Resources Committee held on 14 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

To enable members of the public to ask questions, express views or present petitions, IF NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN, (by telephone, in writing or by email) BY NO LATER THAN 12 NOON OF THE WORKING DAY PRECEDING THE MEETING. As per Procedural Rule 14.4 at any one meeting no person may submit more than 3 questions and no more than 1 such question may be asked on behalf of one organisation.

There was no public participation.

Note:

“Opinions expressed or statements made by individual persons during the public participation part of a Council or committee meeting are not the opinions or statements of Derbyshire Dales District Council. These comments are made by individuals who have exercised the provisions of the Council’s Constitution to address a specific meeting. The Council therefore accepts no liability for any defamatory remarks that are made during a meeting that are replicated on this document.”

Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any interests they may have in subsequent agenda items in accordance with the District Council’s Code of Conduct. Those interests are matters that relate to money or that which can be valued in money, affecting the Member, her/his partner, extended family and close friends. Interests that become apparent at a later stage in the proceedings may be declared at the time.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council’s Risk Management Policy and Strategy requires the Chief Executive to report to Members, by way of annual report, on the Council’s risk management arrangements and how key strategic risks are being managed. This report describes the Council’s risk management processes and working practices, which ensure that risk management arrangements continue to be effective, timely and fit for purpose, providing the Council with the correct levels of insight and support in relation to its risk exposure.

The Director of Resources introduced a report which described the Council’s risk management processes and working practices, which ensure that risk management arrangements continue to be effective, timely and fit for purpose, providing the Council with the correct levels of insight and support in relation to its risk exposure.

As a requirement of the Council’s Risk Management Policy and Strategy, approved by this Committee in March 2021, an annual report on the Council’s Risk Management Arrangements must be presented to Members. The report detailed the risk management programme, whereby risks associated with the Corporate Plan, its key strategic objectives and individual Service Plan Key Actions are formally assessed.

The Report also informed Members of the key issues which the Council faced in 2021/22 and the key actions which had been taken since the previous annual report. The internal audit review of risk management arrangements undertaken in 2022 concluded that the reliability of the internal controls operating in respect of risk management was assessed as Reasonable. However, five recommendations were agreed, with their implementation to be overseen by the Risk Continuity Group by the end of the financial year. The risks identified and scored by the RCG were detailed in Chart 1 of the report.

It was moved by Councillor Garry Purdy, seconded by Councillor Susan Hobson and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the annual report and risk management arrangements be approved.

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

The District Council publishes an Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan which sets out how the Council will meet its public sector equality duties, and what consultation and engagement activities are proposed each year. This report provides an update on progress against the actions set out in the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan 2020-22. This report also seeks approval for the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan for 2022-24.

The Corporate Policy Officer introduced a report which updated Members on progress against the actions set out in the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan 2020-22. The report also sought approval for the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan for 2022-24. The District Council publishes an Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan which sets out how the Council will meet its public sector equality duties, and what consultation and engagement activities are proposed each year.

The District Council has a comprehensive Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy which details how the Council meets the requirements of equality legislation and provides the context for the Equality, Consultation & Engagement Plan. The Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan which set out the activity planned for the period 2020-22 was approved by the Governance and Resources Committee on 20 August 2020. The Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan sets out an updated range of objectives linked to the Corporate Plan 2020-24.

It was moved by Councillor Garry Purdy, seconded by Councillor Steve Flitter and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

1.   That progress against the actions in the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan 2020-22 (as set out in Appendices one and two) be noted.

2.   That the Equality, Consultation and Engagement Plan 2022-24 (as set out in Appendices three and four) be approved.

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

This report provides information on formal complaints made under the District Council’s internal Complaints Procedures; those referred to the Local Government Ombudsman, and against individual elected member behaviour at town, parish and District Council level.

The Director of Corporate and Customer Services introduced a report which provided information regarding the formal complaints received under the District Council’s internal Complaints Procedures; those referred to the Local Government Ombudsman, and against individual elected member behaviour at town, parish and District Council Level.

All local authorities need to provide complaint procedures to respond to customer concerns in an open and transparent way within defined timescales and in accordance with legislation. In order to do so the Council has adopted a complaints procedure which provides clarity and transparency to customers on how to raise issues and how the Council will consider and respond to a complaint. The details of the District Council’s three stage complaints procedure were set out in the report, in addition to the process of referring matters to the Local Government Ombudsman.

It was moved by Councillor Garry Purdy, seconded by Councillor Steve Flitter and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the Complaints Annual Report for the period from April 2021 to March 2022 be noted.

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.