To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

That Councillor Liz Harvey be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.

To receive apologies for absence.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

That Councillor Rae Evans be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

To receive the minutes of the Joint Committee meeting held on 29^th November 2022.

Copy attached marked 4.

That the Minutes of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee held on 29^th November 2021 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 10.00 a.m. on Friday, 11^th March 2022.

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.

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

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

1.         That the draft audit plan for 2021/22 as presented by WR Partners attached at Appendix 1, be approved.

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

Report of the Audit Services Manager.

Contact: Ceri Pilawski (01743 257739)

That the performance to date against the 2021/22 Audit Plan as set out in this report be endorsed.

Report of the Audit Services Manager.

 Contact: Ceri Pilawski (01743 257739)

That the proposed programme of audits for 2022/23 be endorsed.

Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

 Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

1.         That the draft WME Transparency Statement for 2021/22 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)

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

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

Report of the Treasurer.  Report to Follow

Contact: James Walton (01743 258915)

1.         That the retention of a minimum accumulated surplus of £0.894 million be approved

2.         That authority be delegated to the Treasurer, following a review of the updated forecasted positions and final volumes for March 2022, to increase the retained amount of the accumulated surplus in Recommendation 2.1 in order to ensure prudent cashflow for the 21/22 financial year.

3.         That once the Treasurer has exercised the delegation in Recommendation 2.1(b), the distribution of any remaining accumulated surplus up to a maximum of £0.576 million following the deduction of the retained amount, in accordance with the revised distribution method under the amended provisions of the Joint Agreement. This is subject to the formal approval of the revised distribution method by Worcestershire County Council, the remaining Member Authority to do so.

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.

To approve the exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 29^th November 2021.

That the Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2021 be approved as a correct record. 

Exempt Report of the Director of West Mercia Energy.

 Contact: Nigel Evans (0333101 4353)

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

The next meeting of the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee will be held on Tuesday, 27^th September 2022 at 10.00 a.m.