Issue - meetings

The Board was asked to consider a report from Grant Thornton which provided an update in relation to the work undertaken at Bromsgrove District Council.

Mr. P. Jones presented the report and in doing so informed the Board of the progress as at 31st March 2013.  They would undertake the main final accounts visit during July 2013, as detailed in the report.  Mr. P. Jones highlighted the challenge questions, as detailed in the report, that had been raised as a result of emerging issues both financial and operational that could impact on the Council; and asked if Members and officers had considered these.

In response the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources informed the Board that she would respond to the challenge questions and would provide a full briefing on each of the challenge questions to the next meeting of the Board.

Following a brief discussion on items as detailed on page 74 of the report, ‘Emerging issues and developments’:

·         closed landfill sites

·         redundancy costs

·         reserves

The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources informed Members that in respect of redundancy costs; staff had been asked if they wished to be considered for voluntary redundancy, early retirement and flexible retirement; and that the requests received would be considered at a panel in April 2013, so there would be no cost implications until 2013/2014.

The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources agreed to provide further information on closed landfill sites within the district and reserves to the next meeting of the Audit Board.

RESOLVED: that, as detailed in the preamble above in respect of additional information to be provided to the next meeting of the Audit Board; the Audit Board update from Grant Thornton be noted.