Agenda and minutes

To receive nominations for the appointment of a Chair and Vice-Chair of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee for the 2017/18 Municipal Year. 

Nominations were invited for the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Joint Committee for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

Resolved – That Councillor Rawlinson (Preston) be appointed the Chair and Councillor Whitehead (Lancaster) the Vice-Chair of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Joint Committee for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

·         Fire Procedures / Mobile Phones / Rest Rooms

·         “Members of the Public, committee members and officers are reminded that under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, the press and Public may film, audio record, photograph and use social media whilst the meeting is in progress, for Part A items only, and as long as no disruption is caused to the meeting. Anyone filming is asked to focus their attention on elected members rather than other visitors”. (To be read out if visitors present). 

There were none. 

Resolved – That the appointment of Councillor Hanson in substitution for Councillor Blamire, in accordance with Rule 12 of the ‘Conduct of Meetings and Proceedings of the Joint Committee’ document, be noted. 

To receive any declarations of interest from Members. 

Councillor Rawlinson declared a personal interest in agenda item eight (Minute number SRB 8 refers) insofar as he is an employee of the Department for Work and Pensions. 

To confirm the minutes of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee meeting held on 14^th February 2017. 

Resolved – That the minutes of a meeting of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Services Joint Committee held on 14 February 2017, be noted and signed as a correct record. 

Report enclosed. 

The Director of Corporate Services (Preston City Council) submitted a report giving details of the contents of the Annual Governance Statement for 2016/17 for the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service. The Annual Governance Statement was set out in Appendix A to the report.  

Resolved – That the Committee approves the Annual Governance Statement, as set out in Appendix A to the report. 

Report enclosed. 

The City Treasurer/Section 151 Officer (Preston City Council) submitted a report on the preparation of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Services Statement of Accounts which provided a true and fair view of the financial position of the Shared Service at the accounting date and its income and expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2017.  

The Partnership prepared its Annual Accounts and supporting financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in United Kingdom 2016/17 (The Code).  

Resolved – That the Joint Committee approves the Unaudited Revenues and Benefits Statement of Accounts for 2016/17, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Report enclosed. 

The Deputy Director (Customer Services) – Head of Shared Service, submitted a report on the formal shared service arrangement between Lancaster and Preston City Councils, which was entered into with effect from 1 July 2011 to provide a Revenues and Benefits service across both City Council areas.  

In line with the agreement a refreshed Business Plan for 2017, covering a three year period 2017 – 2020, incorporating the key performance indicators for the service together with ongoing projects and future challenges was submitted for consideration.  

The Business Plan also contained a financial appraisal of the 2016/17 outturn position and the budget requirement for 2017/18, approved at the previous meeting.  

Resolved - The Joint Committee approved the Business Plan for 2017. 

The next meeting of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee will be held on Tuesday 12 December at 4.30 pm in the Lancaster City Council offices. 

The next meeting of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee will be on Tuesday 12 December 2017 at 5.00 pm in the Town Hall, Preston.