Agenda item

To present to the Committee the progress on outstanding actions identified by the Committee along with general updates on other issues that fall within the responsibilities of the Committee.

The Committee considered the Table of Outstanding Issues. It had been reviewed and updated since it had last been considered by the Committee in September 2022.

There were two main elements to this report, namely:-

1)    Updates against general items raised by the Committee; and

2)    Updates against the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Annual Governance Statement Action Plan.

Members heard that in terms of item 1), there were no significant issues to raise, with actions remaining in progress.  In terms of item 2), it set out the latest Annual Governance Statement agreed by the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive at the end of July 2022, and included any outstanding actions from the previous statement along with a number of new items identified.  Activity would remain in progress against the various items, which would be reported to Members as part of this report mechanism going forward.

It was reported to the Committee that the Statement of Accounts 2020/21 remained subject to the conclusion of the work of the External Auditor. At the last meeting of the Committee, the External Auditor had provided a progress report, which set out the work that they had completed on the areas of significant risk and the results of that work.  Those results were still going through a quality and review process but what was very positive to report was that the Auditors had not identified any errors, significant concerns or any control weaknesses that they needed to bring to the Council’s attention. 

It was reported to Members that the Auditors had increased their staffing on this particular audit in order to complete it.

RIPA – Regulatory Investigatory Powers Act 2000

It was reported that this Authority had not conducted any RIPA activity in the last quarter, and that it was rare that it would be required to do so.

Redmond Review

It was reported to Members that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, acting as interim system leader, had provided local authorities with a general update on 28 September 2022; stating that the Department had led work on a system-wide package of measures aimed at addressing audit delays.  That programme continued to deliver on initiatives responding to the Redmond Review, whilst addressing matters to assist with wider market issues, including timeliness.

For Members’ information a recent Local Government Chronicle article had indicated that nationally there were 600 audits still outstanding. As further progress was announced by the Government, updates would be provided to future meetings of this Committee, which would hopefully set out the necessary practical steps to implement the recommendations made as part of this review.

Planning Enforcement

The Committee heard that, at its September 2022 meeting, Members had been provided with an update regarding the Planning Enforcement Policy. In response the Chairman had stated the following namely that:-

a)         he had concerns as to whether the staffing resources would be adequate to implement the Planning Enforcement Policy;

b)         he felt that an audit should be carried out of the planning enforcement service; and

c)         he had concerns as to whether the Policy had, in fact, been formally adopted given the amendments made and the decision made by the Planning Committee on 1 September 2022.

In October 2022, the Planning Department had provided the following update by e-mail to Members of the Committee:

“Planning Enforcement is a priority for the Planning Management team and the arrival of the new Enforcement Team Leader on 25th October will assist with the improvements currently being implemented and those proposed for the coming months.  The adoption of the Enforcement Policy, new reporting systems via the Corporate Enforcement Group & Planning Committee, and an updated harm assessment form with traffic light filters all feed into these improvements in service.

In addition, a recruitment campaign is underway to attract ex-police or ex-military personnel to the roles currently covered by agency staff.   Having permanent staff in these roles will provide the department with a team of officers who are committed to the local area and delivery a high quality service.  The new Team Leader, guided by the Planning Management team, will be a driving force behind training, customer service and a more efficient and effective enforcement department”.

Since the above update, the Planning Service had provided the following further comment:-

“Planning Enforcement remains a priority for the Planning Management team, and we now benefit from the arrival an Enforcement Team Leader.  We are working through the historic caseload and have significantly reduced the caseload. The adoption of the Enforcement Policy means officers are following the priorities and using the harm assessment, but new reporting systems are needing to be put into place and process changed to match the policy requirements.  The traffic light system is also being used. 

A recruitment campaign has been carried out and did seek to attract ex-police or ex-military personnel alongside normal candidates to the roles currently covered by agency staff.   We are shortlisting now.   Having permanent staff in these roles will provide the department with a team of officers who are committed to the local area and delivery a high quality service.  The new Team Leader, guided by the Planning Management team, will be a driving force behind training, customer service and a more efficient and effective enforcement department”.

External audit appointment from 2023/24

It was also reported that the Council had now received confirmation that the external auditor appointed to Tendring District Council from 2023/24, as part of the ‘opting in’ arrangements, would be KPMG LLP.  This appointment covered a five-year period from 2023/24 to 2027/28.  This appointment had been made under Regulation 13 of the Local Audit (Appointing Person) Regulations 2015 and had been approved by the PSAA Board at its meeting held on 16 December 2022.

After a short discussion the Members RESOLVED that:

a)    the Committee notes the progress against the actions as set out in Appendices A and B; and

b)    the Committee will re-examine, in due course, the Planning Enforcement function as regards to its effectiveness and efficiency once the new Policy is fully implemented and all enforcement staff are in place.