Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Janet Dawson of PricewaterhouseCoopers will present the 2004 / 2005 Joint Audit and Inspection Letter

Received a presentation of the 2004 / 2005 Joint Audit and Inspection Letter from Janet Dawson and Hywel Pullen of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

Due to illness Janette Whitfield from the Audit Commission was unable to attend, and the Chair asked that she be invited to a future Assembly meeting in order to present the inspection part of the audit letter.

PWC identified the challenging agenda the Council faces particularly in regard to the pace of improvements being made, and highlighted several key points including the level of Council reserves and its Medium Term Financial Strategy, the progress made by the Authority in the area of Risk Management, and the Authority’s effective use of the Oracle system.

Members of the Council asked questions covering the following areas:

·  the role of Councillors in providing challenge to the efficiency and value for money agenda;

·  the Council making appropriate progress in its ambition to achieve the equivalent of ‘Good’ under CPA by 2006 and ‘Excellent’ by 2008;

·  the role of residents in the auditor’s assessment; and

·  the level of detail in the Audit report;

Presentation by Nina Clark, Head of Democratic Support, Corporate Strategy Department

Received a presentation by Nina Clark, Head of Democratic Support, Corporate Strategy Department, on Customer Care in the Democratic Support Division.

Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (Nuisance / High Hedges) - New Charges and Change to the Constitution

Agreed the inclusion in Section N, Part C (Scheme of Delegation) of the Council’s Constitution of delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Environment to deal with all necessary procedures relating to Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (Nuisance / High Hedges); and

Council Tax Base 2006/07

Agreed:

1.  In accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, that the amount calculated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as its Tax Base for the year 2006/07 shall be 50,648.40 Band D properties;

2.  That the discounts for second homes or long term empty properties are not reduced for 2006/07; and

3.  That locally determined discounts should not be awarded for 2006 / 2007.