Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2011 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources on the Annual Audit Letter 2010/11.

The Board was advised that the Annual Audit Letter summarised the findings from the 2010/11 audit completed by the Council’s External auditors.  The Letter included messages arising from the audit of the financial statements and the result of the work that had been undertaken in assessing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the Council’s arrangements to secure value for money in the use of its resources.

Mike Thomas, the District Auditor and Colette Williams Audit Manager, attended the meeting and reported that an unqualified audit opinion had been issued on the Council’s financial statements, which had been completed in line with the statutory deadlines. The District Auditor also concluded that the Council had adequate arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.

The Board wished to place on record their thanks to all Officers that had assisted in the preparation of the audit inspection.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Audit Letter be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the requirement for the Council to determine the “Tax Base” for its area and the tax base for each of the Parishes.

The Council was required to notify the figure to the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police Authority and the Environment Agency by 31^st January 2012. In addition, the Council was required to calculate and advise the Parish Councils, if requested, of their relevant tax bases.

            The Board was advised that the Tax Base was the measure used for calculating the council tax and was used by both the billing authority (the Council) and the major precepting authorities (the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police Authority), in the calculation of their council tax requirements. It was arrived at in accordance with a prescribed formula representing the estimated full year number of chargeable dwellings in the Borough expressed in terms of the equivalent of Band “D” dwellings. Taking account of all the relevant information and applying a 99% collection rate, the calculation for 2012/13 gave a tax base figure of 38,200 for the Borough as a whole.

RESOLVED: That Council be recommended that

         1)         the 2012/13 Council Tax Base be set at 38,200 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police Authority, and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

         2)         the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes be set as follows:

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Communities on the Government’s Caring for Our Future: Shared Ambitions for Care Support consultation document (the document).

            The Board was advised that the Government launched the document on 15 September 2011 as an engagement for people who used or provided care facilities, including the voluntary sector, about the priorities for improving care and support.

            The Board noted that the document was an opportunity to bring together the recommendations from other previously published documents such as those from the Law Commission, the Commission on Funding of Care and Support and the Government’s Vision for Adult Social Care. The report listed the six areas identified by Government where it was believed that there was the biggest potential to make improvements to the care and support system.

            It was further noted that staff from the Borough Council, Key Health Stakeholders, Domiciliary Care and Residential Care providers as well as Registered Housing Providers would be invited to comment on the consultation questions. Details of the consultation questions, along with proposed responses were attached to the report at Appendix 1.

            RESOLVED: That

1)     the contents of the report be noted; and

2)     the consultation response, attached at Appendix 1, be agreed.

MINUTES ISSUED: 2 December 2011

CALL-IN: 9 December 2011

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 9 December 2011