Issue - meetings

This report sets out the breaches, waivers and exemptions of Financial Regulations which have occurred during the 2019/20 financial year.

The relatively low number of breaches and lower level of waivers compared to previous years (from legacy Councils) indicate that there was generally a good level of understanding of the Regulations.

The Chief Finance Officer, or formally delegated representative, agreed 66 waivers/exemptions totalling £13.8M.

Whilst full compliance can never be guaranteed and ‘under-reporting’ is an inherent possibility, arrangements were in place to detect instances of non-compliance. 

An effective and transparent breaches / waivers / exemptions governance process maximises the chances of the Council achieving value for money and complying with UK law (Public Contract Regulations 2015) when procuring goods, services or works.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘G’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

To comply with Financial Regulations requiring annual consideration by the Committee of breaches and waivers, the report set out the breaches, waivers and exemptions of Financial Regulations which had occurred during the 2019/20 financial year. A schedule of individual breaches and waivers was circulated with the agenda and assurances were provided that each breach was thoroughly investigated. It was also explained that, in the case of waivers, a significant number related to the period of transition from legacy councils to the new BCP Council.

It was reported that the relatively low number of breaches and lower level of waivers compared to previous years from within the legacy Councils indicated that there was generally a good level of understanding of the Regulations.

It was also noted that an effective and transparent governance process maximised the prospect of the Council achieving value for money and complying with UK law (Public Contract Regulations 2015) when procuring goods, services or works.

RESOLVED that

the breaches, waivers and exemptions of Financial Regulations that occurred during 2019/20 be noted.

Voting: Unanimous.