Agenda item

To receive the minutes of the meetings held on the 3^rd and 25^th June, 2020.

The minutes of the meetings held on the 3^rd and 25^th June, 2020 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Arising out of these minutes, the following maters were highlighted:

(a)  Information Governance, Cyber Security and Data Protection Officer update

·         It was reported that the Council had received no further information  from the National Cyber Security Centre, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government or the Local Government Association regarding a case study from the ‘Redcar and Cleveland’ incident.  However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had commissioned the NCC Group to work with Councils to create an action plan.  This work was currently progressing and further information would be provided as and when this was received.

·         In relation to the Cyber Essentials Plus Certification, this had been pushed back to the end of the year due to Covid 19 implications.  The project was due to recommence during September 2020 but would be at a slower pace due to social distancing restrictions

(b)  Covid 19 Update

·         It was reported that the financial position was being tracked on an ongoing basis.  The latest estimate for the 2020/21 financial year was for a deficit of around £18m part of the reduction was explained by the announcement of the third Government grant in July

·         The Executive Director Core Services commented on the ‘new ways of working’ and on how this differed from that of pre Covid 19.  The Chief Executive had referred to this in some detail at the previous meeting.  A Recovery Strategy had been developed which provided information on how the Authority intended to and indeed was currently opening up Services and buildings in a very safe manner.  Barnsley had had a very challenging period over the last three to four weeks, but a significant amount of work had been undertaken both within the Council and with Partners including Public Health and the NHS to ensure that all necessary arrangements were in place.  Barnsley now had one of the highest testing rates within the country and was doing extremely well against the positivity rates.  The number of tests undertaken per day had gone up from around 220 to 450 per day with a positivity rate of around 1% so Barnsley was not currently regarded as an area of concern, however, this could very quickly change as had been seen in other parts of the country. 

A review was being undertaken of all services so that there was an understanding of the risks and challenges faced and a ‘roadmap’ had been prepared outlining the strategy for opening up buildings and further extending services.  In addition, a presentation was to be made to Council on the 30^th July, 2020 outlining the Recovery Strategy for the Borough.  It was stressed, however, that a number of services had continued to operate throughout the pandemic period and staff concerned should be commended for their hard work and dedication in enabling this to occur.  It was also reported that many of the Authority’s services were being reviewed in the light of homeworking and of how technology was being used and how it could be utilised in moving forward.

(c)  Audit Scope and Additional Work 2019-20 – in terms of the recoverability of debtors or receivables, the Service Director Finance reported that this piece of work had now been undertaken in terms of what recoverability was likely to be.  Appropriate provision had been set aside within the accounts and this year’s outturn.  That provision was dependent upon a number of factors including the type of debts, the age of the debt and also the status of the debt in terms of the recovery process.  He felt, therefore, that this provision was prudent at the current point in time.  This also took the impact of Covid 19 into account.

(d)  Draft 2019/20 Statement of Accounts – there was a discussion centring on the need for the narrative section to the Accounts to outline the key issues in a none technical language as it was felt that this would enable stakeholders to better understand those key issues.  In this context reference was made to the current position with regard to Covid 19, Property and Land Values, Pension costs, changes in actuarial assumptions and Treasury Management particularly in relation to borrowing and debt.  The Service Director Finance welcomed the feedback and acknowledged that the information would be difficult to extract from the 200+ pages of the accounts.  The Finance Team would reflect on the additional narrative suggested and an Executive Summary would be produced prior to the Committee receiving the final audited accounts in September/October.  In relation to Treasury Management he reported that in his capacity as Section 151 Officer he had consistently flagged up the relatively high levels of debt to the Cabinet, Council and to this Committee.  For the last couple of years his advice had been (and indeed it was Council policy) that no further material borrowing should take place until such time as the Glassworks development was complete.  This advice would be reviewed in the next budget cycle in the light of both the impending completion of the development and in view of the economic impact of the Covid pandemic.