The Director of Legal and Governance will report the names of alternate Members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed Members.

Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)      Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)      Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)      Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)      Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2024, be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Kav Amrez – 07929 070288)

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Kav Amrez – 07929 070288)

The Strategic Director, Corporate Resources will present a report (Document “AD”) which provided an update of the UK Public Sector Procurement law is changing in February 2025 when the Procurement Act 2023 will be enacted. This report sets out the implications for the Council and the key activities undertaken in readiness for the new Act. Most specifically, the report outlines the work undertaken to update the Council’s Contract Standing Orders to ensure compliance with the new law. These Contract Standing Orders form Part 3G of the Council’s Constitution and, as such, Full Council approval is required to make any amendments. This report seeks approval from Governance and Audit Committee to present the revised Contract Standing Orders (attached as Appendix A) to Full Council on 21 January 2025. 

Recommended –

That the revised Contract Standing Orders (attached as Appendix A) be approved for presentation to Full Council on 21 January 2025. 

(Terry Maley – 07483 435045)

Resolved –

That the revised Contract Standing Orders (attached as Appendix A) be approved for presentation to Full Council on 21 January 2025, for adoption, with effect from the commencement date of the Procurement Act 2023, subject to the following amendments:

a)    That the Contract Standing Orders apply to West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the law; and

b)   That a report on scrutiny arrangements for officer Key Decisions is brought back to Governance and Audit Committee within 3 months.  

To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Corporate Resources

(Terry Maley – 07483 435045)

The Interim Director of Finance will present a report (Document “AF”) which presents the finalised 2022-23 external audit fees for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

Recommended –

That the Governance and Audit Committee note and approve the report (Document “AF”).

(Celia Yang - 07977 814829) 

Resolved –

That the Governance and Audit Committee note and approve the 2022-23 Finalised External Audit Fees for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (CBMDC) and West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) as detailed in the report (Document “AF”).

To be actioned by: Interim Director of Finance and IT

(Celia Yang - 07977 814829) 

The Managing Director West Yorkshire Pension Fund will present a report (Document “AF”) which provides an update on the LGPS consultation launched on 14 November 2024 and closing on 16 January 2025.

The consultation proposes changes to the requirements around pooling of LGPS assets, the sourcing and making of local investments and the governance arrangements of LGPS funds and pools.

Recommended –

That the Governance and Audit Committee:

(1)  Note the update in relation to consultation and its potential implications for the Northern LGPS Pool and WYPF; and

(2)  Confirm whether it wishes to arrange a further meeting of the Committee to approve the NLGPS Business Plan or whether to approve via another route, such as delegating this to the WYPF Managing Director with the approval of the Committee Chair.

(James Giles– 07484 544048)

Resolved –

That the Governance and Audit Committee:

(1)  Note the update in relation to consultation and its potential implications for the Northern Local Government Pension Scheme (NLGPS) Pool and West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF); and

(2)  Request that the NLGPS Business Plan be presented to the Governance and Audit Committee at its meeting on 25February 2025.

(Euan Miller – 01274 434517)

Recommended –

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the item relating to the Minutes of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Investment Advisory Panel meeting held on 7 November 2024, because the information to be considered is exempt information within paragraph 3 (Financial or Business Affairs) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  It is also considered that it is in the public interest to exclude public access to this item.

Resolved –

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the item relating to the minutes of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Investment Advisory Panel meeting held on 25 April 2024 because the information to be considered is exempt information within paragraph 3 (Financial or Business Affairs) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is also considered that it is in the public interest to exclude public access to this item.

The Council’s Financial Regulations require the minutes of meetings of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund be submitted to Governance and Audit Committee.

In accordance with this requirement, the Director of West Yorkshire Pension Fund will submit (Not for Publication “Document AG”) which reports on the minutes of the meeting of the WYPF Investment Advisory Panel held on

7 November 2024.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Investment Advisory Panel held on 7 November 2024 be considered.

(Euan Miller – 01274 434517)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Investment Advisory Panel held on 7 November 2024 be noted.

(Euan Miller – 01274 434517)