Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on MeetingDate.

The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Northampton Borough Council held on 8^th September 2008 were signed by the Deputy-Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor advised that he had attended the West and East Midlands Swimming Championship for 9-12 year olds and that the team came third out of fifty.

Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor, Councillors Church, J Conroy, R Conroy, De Cruz, Duncan, Flavell, Garlick, Hawkins, M Hoare, Hollis, Larratt, J Lill, Malpas, I Markham, Mason, Matthews, Scott, Simpson, Taverner and Pam Varnsverry.

There were none.

There were none.

Report of Director of Finance

Councillor Mildren moved and Councillor Perkins seconded the Council’s Treasury Management Performance for 2007-08 which had been reported to Cabinet at its meeting on 1 September 2008.  The purpose of the report was to advise of performance in relation to the borrowing and investment strategy for 2007-08.

RESOLVED:That the Council’s Treasury Management Performance in 2007-08 as reported to Cabinet on 1 September 2008 be noted.

Joint Report of Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Borough Solicitor

Councillor Mildren presented the 2007-08 Annual Governance Statement to Council post external audit which was duly seconded by Councillor Perkins.  It was noted that the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 amended by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2006 required the Council to formally approve the Statement of Accounts by 30 June and that this included the adoption of the Annual Governance Statement.  The Annual Governance Statement had been duly approved by Council in June 2008 and had subsequently been reviewed by KPMG the External Auditors and now needed reapproving by 30 September.  It was noted that Cabinet had approved the Annual Governance Statement for endorsement by Council at its meeting earlier.  Councillor Clarke made comment that improvements were still needed in terms of public speaking and participation at Council meetings and that he also had concerns in terms of the current questioning and reporting system.  Councillor Woods stated that public speaking was something that was being kept under review by the Constitutional Review Working Party and in terms of opposition groups having the opportunity to question the administration there was now more opportunity for this than ever before.

RESOLVED:That the Annual Governance Statement for 2007/08 be adopted.

Report of Director of Finance

Councillor Mildren presented the 2007/08 Statement of Accounts to Council which was duly seconded by Councillor Perkins.  He stated that the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 required the Council to formally approve the Statement of Accounts by 30 June following which they were externally audited and re-presented to Council for approval by 30 September.  He stated that they had been considered and approved by Cabinet at its meeting earlier.  He stated that two significant changes had resulted in a net impact on the General Fund Balance to the tune of £56,000.  Councillor Perkins as Chair of the Audit Committee advised that the accounts had been considered and agreed by Audit the previous week and that the external and internal auditors had confirmed significant improvements although there were still more improvements that had to be done.  It was noted that the Council’s rating had increased from a score of one to a score of two this year.  Thanks were placed on record to the Director of Finance and her team for their hard work and efforts with the accounts.

RESOLVED:(1) That the Council adopt the 2007/08 Statement of Accounts.

(2) That the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance be authorised to make any non-material adjustments to the accounts prior to publication of the accounts.

There were none.

The meeting concluded at 7.00pm