Agenda and draft minutes

That Councillor Hamilton-Cox, Lancaster City Council, be appointed as Chair of the Joint Committee for the 2024/25 Municipal Year; and that Councillor Rawlinson, Preston City Council, be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee for the 2024/25 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 Jackson, in substitution for Councillor Black in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, be noted. 

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

There were none. 

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2024.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 5 February 2024 be noted and signed as a correct record. 

Report enclosed.

The Director of Resources, Preston City Council, submitted a report on the Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24. The report requested that the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee considered and approved the Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24. The Annual Governance Statement was set out at Appendix A to the report.

Committee were informed that three Audits took place and all received an assurance rating of substantial.

The Chair thanked the Revenues and Benefits teams at both Preston and Lancaster City Councils for their continued hard work.

Resolved – That the Joint Committee approved the Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the report. 

Report enclosed.

The Director of Resources, Preston City Council, submitted a report advising that the Host Authority’s Section 151 Officer was responsible for the preparation of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Services Statement of Accounts which provide 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 2024.  

The host authority, Preston City Council, had prepared the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service Unaudited Statement of Accounts 2023/24 in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom (the Code) 2023/24. Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee 22 July 2024.

Resolved – That the Joint Committee approved the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service Unaudited Statement of Accounts for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the report. 

To be determined later.

To be confirmed. 

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure of exempt information which is described in the paragraph(s) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 which is specified against the heading to each item, and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.”

Resolved – That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure of exempt information which is described in Paragraph 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it. 

Report enclosed.

The Assistant Director (Head of Shared Service) submitted a report on the Shared Service Business Plan 2023/25. It was noted that Lancaster City Council and Preston City Council had entered into a formal shared service arrangement for a further 10 years, with effect from 1 July 2021, to provide a Revenues and Benefits service across both City Council areas.  

In line with the agreement, the report introduced a refreshed Business Plan for 2023/25, incorporating the key performance indicators for the service together with ongoing projects and future challenges. The Business Plan also contained a financial appraisal of the 2023/24 outturn position, and the budget requirement for 2024/25.  

Resolved – That the Joint Committee considered and approved the Business Plan for 2023 - 2025 as set out in Appendix A to the report.