Issue - meetings

The Council has been issued with a Best Value Notice by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), following an assurance review that was commissioned in response to the Council’s request for a capitalisation direction made in July 2022 under the Exceptional Financial Support programme. The Chief Executive has also carried out an internal assurance review.

An action plan is proposed which sets out how the Council has responded to each item in the two assurance reviews and the Best Value Notice. 

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet accepted the findings of the two assurance reviews;

(b)            Cabinet noted the receipt of and accept the Best Value Notice; and

(c)             Cabinet agreed the action plan, to ensure progress is made against each of the recommendations.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places

Reason

To appropriately respond to the Best Value Notice and the issues raised in the assurance reviews, in order to ensure appropriate governance and assurance is in place.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Council has been issued with a Best Value Notice by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), following an assurance review that was commissioned in response to the Council’s request for a capitalisation direction made in July 2022 under the Exceptional Financial Support programme, and that the Chief Executive has also carried out an internal assurance review.

An action plan is proposed which sets out how the Council has responded to each item in the two assurance reviews and the Best Value Notice. 

The Chairman of the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet in support of the formation of the Transformation Working Group and for the opportunity for pre Cabinet scrutiny.

A number of members of the Cabinet spoke raising areas of work which had begun to address the best value notice.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)             Cabinet accepted the findings of the two assurance reviews;

(b)            Cabinet noted the receipt of and accept the Best Value Notice; and

(c)             Cabinet agreed the action plan, to ensure progress is made against each of the recommendations.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places

Reason

To appropriately respond to the Best Value Notice and the issues raised in the assurance reviews, in order to ensure appropriate governance and assurance is in place.