To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Rae Evans be elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Rae Evans be elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dean Carroll, Liz Harvey (subsititute: Councillor David Hitchiner) and Adam Kent.

Councillors Gwilym Butler, Gemma Davies and David Hitchiner joined the meeting remotely, taking no part in the voting on any of the items for consideration.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Gwilym Butler be appointed Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Gwilym Butler be appointed Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the Joint Committee meeting held on 27^th September 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 27^th September 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 27^th September 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

To receive any question or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00 p.m. on 15^th March 2023.

No public questions had been received.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

None declared.

The Director of West Mercia Energy Joint Committee will provide a verbal update in line with the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee Standing Orders.

The Director confirmed that there were no entries to report.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4424)

RESOLVED:

1.       That the draft audit plan for 2022/23 as presented by WR Partners be approved.

2.       That the commissioning of WR Partners to undertake the audit in accordance with the audit plan be approved.

The Director introduced, John Fletcher (Partner) from W R Partners.  John Fletcher provided an overview of the audit plan which set out the scope of the audit to be undertaken, identified risks and audit responses to these and outlined materiality levels.  He added that there was a timetable in place with the main audit work to be conducted in July and WR Partners would bring their report to the September meeting. 

In response to a question regarding the materiality level, John Fletcher confirmed that it was at an appropriate level at present but would be reassessed when the final accounts were audited.

RESOLVED:

1.   That the draft audit plan for 2022/23 as presented by WR Partners be approved.

2.   That the commissioning of WR Partners to undertake the audit in accordance with the audit plan be approved.

Report of the Principal Auditor.

Contact: Katie Williams (07584 217067)

RESOLVED:

That the Committee consider and endorse, with appropriate comment, the performance to

date against the 2022/23 Audit Plan as set out in the report.

Katie Williams, Principal Auditor presented the report, which outlined the Internal Audit Performance reports to February 2023.  She reported that the three pieces of planned audit work completed for 2022/23 had been given good assurance and added that in agreement with the Managing Director, the audit in respect of Procurement had been carried forward to 2023/24 pending completion of the tender process.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee consider and endorse, with appropriate comment, the performance to

date against the 2022/23 Audit Plan as set out in the report.

Report of the Principal Auditor.

Contact: Katie Williams (07584 217067)

RESOLVED:

That the proposed programme of audits for 2023/24, be considered and endorsed with appropriate comment.

Katie Williams, Principal Auditor presented the report, which outlined the Internal Audit Strategic Plan 2023/24.

In response to a question, Katie Williams, Principal Auditor explained that the procurement exercise was ongoing and in agreement with the Managing Director has been carried forward to 2023/24. The Managing Director added that the tender process for the electric contract had not yet been completed and it was agreed that it would be better to delay the audit until this the tender had been finalised.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed programme of audits for 2023/24, be considered and endorsed with appropriate comment.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

RESOLVED:

1.       That the draft WME Transparency Statement for 2022/23 be approved.

2.       That authority be delegated to the Director to finalise the WME Transparency Statement and publish it in accordance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The Director of West Mercia Energy presented the Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement Transparency Statement for 2022/23 for approval.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the draft WME Transparency Statement for 2022/23 be approved.

2.         That authority be delegated to the Director to finalise the WME Transparency Statement and publish it in accordance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

RESOLVED:

1.       That the WME Risk Management Strategy attached at Appendix A be approved.

2.       That the position as set out in this report be accepted.

The Director presented a report which provided a review of the WME Risk Management Strategy, including new risks and those upgraded, several of which were related to extreme and challenging market conditions and high prices currently being experienced.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the WME Risk Management Strategy attached at Appendix A be approved.

2.       That the position as set out in this report be accepted.

To consider a resolution under section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the proceedings in relation to the following items shall not be conducted in public on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Act.

            RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(A4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they might involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

To approve the Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 27^th September 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the Exempt Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 27th September 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That the Exempt Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 27th September 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

The Director presented an exempt report for approval. 

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation contained within the exempt report be approved.

The Director presented an exempt report for approval. 

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation contained within the exempt report be approved.

The next meeting of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee will be held on Tuesday, 26^th September 2023 at 10.00 a.m. in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall.

It was noted that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday, 26^th September 2023 at 10.00 a.m. in the Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Shrewsbury.