Agenda and minutes

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Cynthia Griffin.

In accordance with the Constitution, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

We have confirmed as correct the minutes of the Authority meeting on 21 June 2010.

The External Auditor will attend to present his report.

We have noted the Finance Director’s report attaching the Statement of the Accounts for 2009/10 and the Auditor’s report.  The External Auditor was completing the review and planning to provide an unqualified opinion and certificate, without any major issues being raised in respect of the review and audit of the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010. 

In addition, it outlined that there was a favourable variance in terms of expenditure compared to the Revised Budget for 2009/10 resulting primarily from lower contract payments to the Contractor and lower disposal credits and recycling initiatives claims.  The General Fund Balance had decreased to just over £8m.

The Chair welcomed the External Auditor to the meeting.  The External Auditor confirmed that that there were no matters of substance on which to report and that there were no recommendations to consider.  An unqualified opinion and certificate would be provided. 

We offered our thanks to the Auditor for the work undertaken on the accounts and for presenting his report.  The Auditor attended for this item only.

The Finance Director presented his report and explained that there was an over spend on budget of £160,000 mainly caused by higher than expected payments to the Contractor brought about by higher tonnages received from the constituent councils and reduced diversion from landfill performance.  Cash flow was lower than expected creating less interest receivable.

We have noted the report.

We have received and noted the Finance Director’s report which sets out the current portfolio, borrowing requirements and capital programme for 2009/10, together with the prudential indicators position.  The Finance Director responded to various questions.

We have noted the report and agreed the recommendation to wait until the 2013/14 levy setting process to formally review the Levy methodology following our discussions on the Finance Director’s report.

We have noted the Managing Director’s helpful report and appreciate the impact removal of the borough support payment will have on the constituent councils. We have asked that the Operational Management Group prepare a report on this expenditure and have requested an action plan for consideration at a future meeting.

We have approved a pay freeze in keeping with the constituent councils’ recent actions.

Appendix A is included under separate cover (Supplementary 1)

We have received the Monitoring Officer’s report and commentary and have considered the anomalies identified as a result of our recent amendments to the Constitution.  

We have agreed:

 (i)  that for a meeting to be quorate three Members from three Councils must be present;

(ii)  the proposed changes as set out in Appendix A and that the Constitution is adopted with effect from 1st October; and

(iii)  to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Managing Director to make any further amendments as the Authority may agree, together with any other minor administrative / typographical corrections.

We have received the Head of Operations regular report updating us on the outcomes and actions taken in respect of recent contract monitoring.

We have discussed at length the Head of Operations’ report and appendices setting out comparison National Indicator targets, the position regarding recyclate markets, landfill allowances, a cardboard trial and an application for funding from London Waste & Recycling Board.  We have considered uniformity of glass collection in the boroughs and the health, the safety aspects involved as well as the implications for the contractor.  We have agreed that there should be an officer led review on how to raise recycling figures to benefit the constituent councils and requested a report be presented at a future meeting. 

We have asked to be advised monthly about waste tonnages.

We have also discussed the four Closed Landfill Sites.  The Head of Operations will inform Members by e-mail should planning permission be granted to the proposed developer of Wennington Farm.

Noted.

We have resolved to exclude the public and press from the remainder of the meeting by reason of the nature of the business to be discussed which included information exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

We have discussed at length the Managing Director’s confidential report, appendices and considered our options and the risks involved. 

We have noted recommendation (a) and unanimously agreed recommendation (b) and delegated sign off authority to the Managing Director having asked him to seek to negotiate greater savings.

Chair: ………………………………..

Dated:  ………………………………..