Agenda item

The Leader introduced the report and confirmed:

·         The Cabinet Report is the Wales Audit Office 2018/19 Annual Improvement Report for Newport Council.

·         The report reaffirms the commitment to delivering the Wellbeing Objectives set out in the Corporate Plan 2017/22 and ensuring the findings from the Wales Audit Office report and the Council’s Annual Report, which will be presented to Cabinet next month, enable the Council to ensure continuous improvement throughout the organisation.

·         Cabinet was asked to consider the contents of the report and to reaffirm the commitment to delivering the objectives set out in the Corporate Plan 2017/22 and to ensure areas of improvement are delivered.

·         With respect to the Wales Audit Office report, the Leader confirmed that Non Jenkins and Gareth Jones from the Wales Audit Office will provide the meeting with an overview of the report and are willing to accept any questions and/or feedback from Cabinet.

Wales Audit Office spoke to the report:

Non Jenkins confirmed the WAO’s desire to be more transparent and confirmed all documents are being published on their website. 

For 2018/19 the WAO undertook improvement assessment work, an assurance and risk assessment project and work in relation to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.  The WAO’s Annual Improvement Report for the Council showed positive work being taken forward during 2018/19 for audit, regulatory and inspection work as detailed in the brief description and conclusions detailed in the report (Exhibit 1). 

The WAO confirmed that positive steps are being taken to regenerate the city centre.

The WAO thanked the Council for enabling them to be involved in the Flying Start project; the WAO found it invaluable in being able to talk to the service users involved in the project.

The WAO confirmed that during the course of the year the Auditor General did not make any formal recommendations; however there are a number of proposals for improvement which are noted in the report.  The WAO will monitor progress against these and relevant recommendations are noted in the national reports (Appendix 3) as part of the improvement assessment work.

Non Jenkins thanked the members and officers for their help in taking this work forward.

Non Jenkins congratulated the Leader on her elevation to the House of Lords and also congratulated Will Godfrey on his appointment to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The Leader thanked Non Jenkins for her kind words and confirmed the Council strives to give that continuous improvement whilst showing the public that the council is open and transparent in all its activities.

Cabinet thanked the WAO for their work with the authority.

The Leader summarised the report by confirming:

·         The work undertaken by the Wales Audit Office last year and ongoing into this financial year reflects the administration’s commitment on delivering against the Council’s Corporate Plan and its four Wellbeing Objectives;

·         Collectively and individually Cabinet Members are responsible for ensuring that continuous improvement is a priority and ensuring the Council meets its statutory requirements;

·         Where recommendations and proposals for improvement have been raised by the WAO, Cabinet  will ensure that these are addressed by the relevant service areas;

·         The Leader proposed acceptance of the Annual Improvement Report and to reaffirm the commitment to delivery of the wellbeing objectives.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to:

1.       Consider and accept the conclusion contained in the Auditor General’s Annual Improvement Report on the Council’s continuous improvement activity, and to,

2.       Confirm its commitment to deliver the Council’s Wellbeing Objectives from the Corporate Plan in 2019/20