CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

 

To: Councillors Boyce, Hart, C Rosenstiel (Chair), R Smith, Stebbings, Ward

Alternate: Taylor  

 

Placed on public deposit on Friday 20 August.

 

CIVIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 

Date:  Tuesday 31 August 2004

Time: 6.00pm

Place: Committee Room 1, The Guildhall

Contact: Gary Clift                                      

Direct Dial:  (01223) 457011

 

AGENDA

1          MINUTES

 

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 14 June 2004.

 

2          APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

3          DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Members are asked to declare at this stage any interests which they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. If any member is unsure whether or not they should declare an interest on a particular matter, they are requested to seek advice from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services before the meeting.

 

4          PUBLIC QUESTION TIME – see below for detail of the scheme and other public information.

 

5             EXTERNAL AUDIT - AUDIT AND INSPECTION PLAN 2004/05

            Audit and Inspection Plan – Cambridge City Council 2004/05

 

The audit and inspection plan prepared by the Audit Commission, the Council's new External Auditors sets out the audit and inspection work that the Audit Commission proposes to undertake in 2004/2005.  The plan has been drawn up from improvement meetings with senior officers, and the Audit Commission's risk based approach to audit planning.  The plan reflects the Audit Commission's elements of the co-ordinated and proportionate audit and inspection programme.

 

Representatives from the Council’s external auditors will present the Plan to the Committee.

 

6          HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDIT'S ANNUAL AUDIT OPINION

Report attached

 

7          STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2004

            Appendix: SAS 610 Report – August 2004

 

Report by the Director of Finance

 

8          AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

The Committee was advised at its meeting on 14 June that the Executive Councillor for Housing & Health had agreed changes to the review of homelessness decisions made by officers (Record of Decision attached).  This decision is subject to consideration by the Civic Affairs Committee in view of the amendment required to the Constitution.  The Executive Councillor’s decision was to out source the homelessness decision review/appeals procedure to an external agency, on a three-year contract.  This would replace the function performed by the Homelessness Appeals Committee.

 

The Constitution requires an amendment to reflect the decision of the Executive Councillor for Housing and Health and the Civic Affairs Committee is requested to recommend Council to delete from the Constitution the inclusion of a Homelessness Appeals Committee (paragraph 5.7 of Part 3 – Discharge of Council Functions attached).  The constitutional change will be effective when the external agency begins its duties.

 

For decision

 

 

Information for the public

 

You are welcome to attend this meeting as an observer.

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You can ask questions on an issue included on the agenda, or on an issue which is within this committee’s powers. If you wish to ask a question related to an agenda

item contact the committee officer (listed above under ‘contact’) before the meeting starts.  If you wish to ask a question on a matter not included on this agenda, please contact the committee officer by 10.00am the working day before the meeting.  Further details  concerning the right to speak at committee can be obtained from the committee section.

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In the event of the fire alarm sounding  (which is a continuous ringing sound), you should pick up your possessions and leave the building by the route you came in. Once clear of the building, you should assemble on the pavement opposite the main entrance to the Guildhall and await further instructions. If your escape route or the assembly area is unsafe, you will be directed to safe areas by a member of Cambridge City Council staff.

 

 

The next meeting of Civic Affairs Committee is scheduled

for  Wednesday 24 November at 6pm.

 

Following this, the next scheduled meeting will be Wednesday 9th February 2005