Agenda item

The Audit Wales Officer introduced the letter sent to the Chief Executive in December to summarise the progress Audit Wales has made to date with its Recovery Planning – Assurance and Risk Assessment Project, and to provide some interim feedback to inform the Council’s ongoing recovery work.  This work will continue during 2021.

The Performance Manager provided the management response thanking Audit Wales for the timely feedback.  The letter focuses on recovery planning but it should be noted that the Council remains mainly focused on the challenges of the pandemic.  It was hoped that the areas of strength identified in the letter provided the Committee with reassurance whilst signposting areas for consideration to include in medium term recovery planning.  Work with Audit Wales will continue and a final report will be reported to Audit Committee when available.

Noting that the letter identifies that some staff struggle with working at home, a Member asked if there was an all Wales overview of the effects of working at home and if a report would be written on this topic in the future.  It was responded that the findings in Monmouthshire mirror experiences of working at home across Wales.  Experiences and circumstances are different for each staff member.  It was a positive step that a Book A Desk facility had been implemented to allow members of staff to book socially distanced working space in County Hall as an alternative to working at home in recognition of the challenges some experience.  The Audit Wales Officer will check if there are plans to publish a summary of all Wales on the impact of working at home. 

The Chief Officer, Resources emphasised the authority’s efforts to engage and support staff throughout the pandemic.  Staff members have been surveyed to assess wellbeing and to seek opinions on home working.  A further survey will focus on wellbeing in order to adjust support mechanisms as necessary. 

A Member noted that the letter highlights the low level of reserves as an area of concern that could make the impact of COVID more challenging.  The Member asked if the reserve levels are adequate.  The Chief Officer, Resources reminded the Committee that Monmouthshire County Council is the least well-resourced Council in Wales hence the low level of reserves.  The authority works within its financial constraints.  The Council Fund is maintained at 4-6% levels of Net Revenue Expenditure.  £1.8m headroom was created in the Council Fund General Balance at the end of last financial year at the start of the pandemic.  The authority was able to move some finances between capital and revenue to facilitate this.  Earmarked reserves have declined and a review of adequacy of reserves will be undertaken with the final draft budget proposals.  It was commented that comfort levels are very high due to the additional costs and income losses arising from the pandemic being covered by Welsh Government.  It is hoped that there will be a further Hardship Fund put into place by Welsh Government to cover additional costs and income loss from 1^st April 2021.

The Committee received the letter and noted the contents