Public Speaking Time/Open Session
In accordance with paragraphs 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.
Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting and should include the question with that notice.
Minutes:
Ms D Jamieson spoke in relation to the minutes of the previous meeting (land transactions internal audit investigation report). Ms Jamieson asked the committee a number of questions, summarised below:
1) Did the committee receive the internal audit land transactions report, and were any comments subsequently raised with officers.
2) Did the committee consider it necessary to review the process by which members of the public raised concerns with the council in relation to facts presented during asset disposal decisions that did not involve pre-determined individuals.
3) Did the committee acknowledge the process of acting up arrangements across the senior management team and the potential conflict this had.
In response, the Chair confirmed that the committee had received the internal briefing report and that no queries had been raised by Members as a result. It was highlighted that any member of public could attend a meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee to bring matters of concern forward. The Chair stated that scrutiny of decision-making was a role for individual committees and that acting up arrangements were in line with the requirements of the Constitution. It was noted that those officers acting up were not responsible for reviewing decisions made in their previous role, prior to acting up. It was clarified that the internal audit review considered all of the points raised by Ms Jamieson and that the report was considered by the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer.