To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lee Carter, Nathan England, Graham Biggs, Peter Stoddart, and Adam Kent.

To receive the minutes of the Joint Committee meeting held on 21^st March 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 21^st March 2023 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 Wednesday, 20^th September 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 Treasurer

Contact: James Walton (01743 258915)

That the Letter of Representation to be signed by the Chairman and submitted by the Treasurer be noted.

That the finalised Statement of Accounts 2022/23 to be signed by the Chairman and the Treasurer.

That the Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 be noted.

Mr J. Walton, Treasurer (WME) presented the Statement of Accounts 2022/23 and the Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 for the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee (copy attached to the signed minutes). 

RESOLVED:

1.           That the Letter of Representation to be signed by the Chairman and submitted by the Treasurer be noted.

2.           That the finalised Statement of Accounts 2022/23 to be signed by the Chairman and the Treasurer.

3.           That the Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 be noted.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4424)

That the contents of the audit findings report presented by WR Partners be considered and endorsed.

The Chairman welcomed External Auditor, John Fletcher, W R Partners to the meeting.  John Fletcher, introduced the Audit Findings Report 2022/23 and highlighted the key areas of the report.  John Fletcher, thanked Nigel Evans and the team at West Mercia Energy for their cooperation and assistance during the audit and confirmed that they had unrestricted access throughout the audit.  

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the audit findings report presented by WR Partners be considered and endorsed.

Report of Internal Audit

Contract: Barry Hanson (07990 086409)

That the performanceagainst the AuditPlan for the year ended 31 March 2023 be endorsed.

That it be noted that the systemof governance, risk managementandinternal controloperatingeffectivelyand canberelied upon when consideringthe AnnualGovernanceStatementfor2022/23.

That the Chief Audit Executive’s substantialyear end opiniononWest Mercia Energy’s governance, risk managementandinternal control environmentfor2022/23 based onthe work undertaken and managementresponses received be endorsed.

Barry Hanson, Head of Policy and Governance, Internal Audit presented the report which provided a summary of Internal Audit’s work for 2022/23. It was confirmed that based on the controls evidenced across all areas examined, the Chief Audit Executives year end opinion on the Company’s internal control environment was substantial.

RESOLVED:

That the performanceagainst the AuditPlan for the year ended 31 March 2023 be endorsed.

That it be noted that the systemof governance, risk managementandinternal controloperatingeffectivelyand canberelied upon when consideringthe AnnualGovernanceStatementfor2022/23.

That the Chief Audit Executive’s substantialyear end opiniononWest Mercia Energy’s governance, risk managementandinternal control environmentfor2022/23 based onthe work undertaken and managementresponses received be endorsed.

Report of Treasurer

Contact: James Walton (01743 258915)

That the retention of accumulated surplus of £1.806 million be approved.

That the distribution of accumulated surplus of £1.433 million, in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Agreement be approved.

The Treasurer presented the report which recommended the level of distribution of surplus held on 31 March 2023 to the Member Authorities.

RESOLVED:

That the retention of accumulated surplus of £1.806 million be approved.

That the distribution of accumulated surplus of £1.433 million, in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Agreement be approved.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4353)

That the medium and high risks presented be endorsed.

Nigel Evans, Director WME, presented the report (copy attached to the signed exempt minutes), which provided an update on risk management.

RESOLVED:

That the medium and high risks presented be endorsed.

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 21^st March 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2023 be approved.

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4353)

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

Nigel Evans, Director, WME presented an exempt report, providing an update on the Business Plan and Trading Performance to date 2023/24.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4353)

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

Nigel Evans, Director, WME presented an exempt report, providing an update on the progress of WME in developing suitable support products and services for customers as they looked to achieve their net zero targets.

          RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333 101 4353)

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.

To discuss and agree the date of the next meeting.  

The next meeting would take place in March 2023.  Date to be confirmed.