Minutes of Proceedings

1. APOLOGIES

1.1 No apologies were received.   

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

2.1 There were no declarations of interests.

3. INTERIM REPORT TO THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE

3.1 Louise Mason gave SARC members an overview of the Interim Report to those charged with Governance.  The report contains one priority 1 recommendation and six priority 2 recommendations.  The report’s main findings are in relation to the use of procurement cards for personal use and the need for itemised hospitality receipts.  SARC members sought clarification from the Head of Finance on a number of issues, and they stressed the need to have robust policies in place and for them to be properly applied in order to mitigate potential loss and reputational risk.

It was agreed that, where appropriate, the management responses which currently read “Accepted in principle” would be amended to “Accepted”.

ACTION:  PAULA McCLINTOCK

4. DRAFT ASSEMBLY RESOURCE ACCOUNTS 2012-13

4.1 Paula McClintock gave SARC members an overview of the draft Assembly Resource Accounts 2012-13, drawing members’ attention to the 1.48% underspend and the further impairment in the value of Ormiston House. SARC members thanked Paula for the production of the draft accounts to a tight timetable. The wording of the draft Governance Statement was considered further.  It was agreed that the latest version of the statement would be circulated to SARC members by correspondence on Thursday 23 May, prior to its submission to the NI Audit Office on Friday 24 May 2013.

ACTION:  PAULA McCLINTOCK

5. A.O.B.

5.1 Trevor Reaney gave a verbal update to SARC members on the Procurement Compliance Report.  The finalised report will be available for consideration at the June SARC meeting.

6. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 6.1 SARC members agreed that the next meeting of SARC would take place on Monday 24 June 2013 at 11.00 am in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.