(Formerly Finance & General Purposes Committee)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. To make recommendations to the Authority in respect of:
(a) variations to Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Financial Instructions;
(b) the medium-term financial plans including:
(i) the Revenue Budget;
(ii) the Capital Programme;
(iii) the level of borrowing under the Local Government Act 2003 in accordance with the Prudential Code produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; and
(iv) Setting the Council Tax.
(c) a Precept and all decisions legally required to set a balanced budget each financial year;
(d) the Prudential Indicators in accordance with the Prudential Code;
(e) the Treasury Strategy;
(f) the Scheme of Members’ Allowances;
(g) the Integrated Risk Management Plan and Action Plan;
(h) the Best Value Performance Plan.
2. To monitor the Authority’s approved budget.
3. To nominate Members to attend conferences and seminars.
4. To determine, as appropriate, claims by or against the Authority.
5. To determine Insurance matters not delegated to officers.
6. To determine the Authority’s representation on corporate bodies.
7. To determine all personnel issues, including the Brigade Personnel Strategy, but excluding the appointment of the Chief Fire Officer.
8. To determine, subject to financial limits, the letting or termination of contracts in accordance the Authority’s Standing Orders as to Contracts, Financial Regulations and Financial Instructions
9. To determine the response to formal consultations of the Authority other than those reserved to the Standards Committee.
10. To determine any financial matter not reserved to the Authority.
11. To determine the Corporate Risk Register.
12. To determine the Annual Efficiency Statements.
13. To make any decisions which are likely to result in expenditure or savings in excess of £150,000 (or such other figure as the Authority decides from time to time), or to have significant effects on those living or working in at least two wards of the constituent authorities.
14. To determine Service Level Agreements with external providers.
15. To determine property and asset management issues, including all land transactions.
16. To determine the following issues after considering recommendations from the Overview, Performance and Audit Committee:
(a) action plans arising from internal and external audit reports including the Comprehensive Performance Assessment;
(b) the Annual Audit Letter Action Plan, the Statement of Accounts and the Annual Governance Statement;
(c) the system of internal audit;
(d) the internal and external audit plans and the Internal Audit Strategy;
(e) issues raised by internal and external audit reports, and any related action plans;
(f) the Electronic Services Delivery Plan;
(g) the Brigade Personnel Strategy;
(h) Levels of Incident Response;
(i) the Corporate Risk Management Policy;
(j) the Authority’s Information Policy; and
other such policies and procedures as are required from time to time.
17. To determine policies, codes or guidance after considering recommendations from the Standards Committee in respect of:
(a) regulating working relationships between members and co-opted members of the Authority and the employees of the Authority;
(b) governing the conduct of employees of the Authority
(c) Whistleblowing;
(d) Money Laundering;
(e) Complaints;
(f) Anti Fraud and Corruption, and
other such policies and procedures as are required from time to time.
18. To determine the following issues after considering recommendations from the Safety Panel:
(a) all matters related to the development, promotion and delivery of a co-ordinated Prevention, Protection, Partnerships and Community Safety Strategy; and
(b) any other relevant matters relating to community safety.
19. To determine any other matters that require a Member decision which do not fall within the remit of any other of the Authority’s bodies.