To provide the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee with an update on progress with implementing the action plan agreed by Cabinet in response to Director of Resources’ special report on financial governance issues in ICT and Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Resources which provided the Committee with an update on progress with implementing the action plan agreed by Cabinet in response to the Director of Resources’ special report on financial governance issues in ICT and Customer Services.

Members noted that the words ‘is being implemented’ should be added after the word ‘services’ in the second line of the ‘Reasons’ paragraph on the first page of the report, and that the words ‘so that’ should be inserted after the word ‘urgency’ in paragraph 3 on the first page of the report.

The Director of Resources informed Members that the Interim Head of Human Resources had now been briefed on which actions had been logged to her (paragraph 3 of the report refers). She referred to the table in paragraph 16 and stated that work emanating from the review of the Constitution was considerable and was being led by her Directorate Management Team..

A Member referred to paragraph 4 of the report and asked if the policy referred to would be agreed by the Cabinet and the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. The Director of Resources stated that the policy referred to would usually be agreed by officers, but that it would be referred to Cabinet and this Committee for information.

A Member expressed concern that paragraphs 23 to 25 of the report contained bland jargon and that the issues referred to should have more detail attached so that Members are clearly aware of the current situation on each issue.

With regard to the dates referred to in the right hand column on Appendix 1, the Director of Resources indicated that a further report would be submitted to the next Committee meeting updating completion dates for the various actions.

In relation to a Member’s inquiry regarding which issues the Interim Head of Human Resources is working on, the Director of Resources informed the Committee that the more straight forward issues were currently being actioned by the Human resources team but that certain elements were extremely complex and therefore would need input by the Interim Head of Human Resources.

A Member suggested that all overseas trips should be authorised in advance and are cash limited and that the appropriate Cabinet Member is informed.

A Member also referred to recommendation (iii) of Minute No. 21 of the Meeting of the Committee held on the 21st September 2007, and stated that there was no reference to this in the Appendix 2 of the report. They requested that a full report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on this recommendation and that the Director of Corporate and Customer Services should attend to present it.

A Member also made reference to recommendation (iii) of Minute No. 21 of the Minutes referred to in the above paragraph, and took the view that the contract referred to should be part of the Terms of Reference for the Independent Investigator.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed the Committee that although the issues regarding the Terms of Reference were complex, he would approach the Leader of the Council and inform him of the above mentioned view in relation to the contract referred to and if a version of the Terms of Reference could be brought into the public domain.

With reference to paragraph 13 of Appendix 2, a Member requested that as well as exceptions in respect of the identification and planning for transfer of resources to be considered by the ISS Board being reported to the Herefordshire Connects Programme Board for decision, could these be the subject of report to this Committee.

RESOLVED:            That

(i)                 the Director of Resources to submit a report to the next meeting updating the expected completion dates for each action;

(ii)               the amended policy in respect of travel and subsistence be reported to this Committee for information;

(iii)             the Director of Corporate and  Customer Services  submits a report to the next meeting of this Committee giving details of the current position regarding the re-assessment of the Community Network Up Grade contract she has initiated; and

(iv)             as well as exceptions in respect of the identification and planning for transfer of resources to be considered by the ISS Board being reported to the Herefordshire Connects Programme Board for decision, these be the subject of report to this Committee.

RECOMMENDED:   That all overseas trips are authorised in advance and are cash limited and that the appropriate Cabinet Member is informed.