Agenda item

To receive any questions from members of the public and replies thereto.

The following member of the public asked questions:

Paul Elstone

Question 1

Agenda Item 8 External Auditors Draft Report 2023/24:

Professionally prepared market data available reveals that this Council were paying grossly excessive prices for the ZED PODS modular social home developments.

I find no reference in any of the internal or external audit report  to any Value for Money or Governance Audit had been implemented  this with regards to this Councils  partnership arrangement with ZED PODS 

An audit I believe there was a very compelling reason to undertake given that data shows that  homes far more energy efficient than the ZED PODS Modules and constructed  to Passive House Standards  could be built for around  £2500 per square meter. Yet it was known that this Council had paid over £5,000 per square meter for a modular development this despite the land coming for free. 

There seems to be one development still to be delivered that could cost over £6,000 per square meter. 

Would this Audit Committee arrange for the implementation of both a Value for Money and a Good Governance Audit and if not, why not?

Question 2

Agenda Item 6 Corporate Risk Report:

CR 9,  Delivery of 3 Rivers Closedown Plan  Page 7   Shows current  risk as stable at a low of  three (3). A very low score I believe already previously questioned by a member of this Committee.

Five (5) out of the nine (9)  Haddon Heights properties remain on this Councils books and since 3 Rivers sold these five (5) properties to this Council in March 2024 and at a price of £3.15 million. Properties first marketed 2 years ago. 

The corporate risk includes the ability to sell the Haddon Heights properties on and at budget. 

This Council have lost around £105,000 in investment income and since purchasing these properties just 8 months ago and with the loss escalating substantially month on month. 

Will this Audit Committee as part of the Agenda Item. 6 debate, fully examine the reason for the risk ranking remaining so very low and give full consideration to the need to increase this risk score. This given both the current sales position and ongoing market conditions and if not why not?

Supplementary Question

In providing response that I will receive a written answer within 10 days and response that has become the standard response for all MDDC Committee Chairs.

Is the Audit Committee Chair aware that despite what the Monitoring Officer was previously on record as saying the response you had provided was not in full compliance with the MDDC Constitution Part 4 Rules of Procedure, Sections 9.1 and 9.4, pages 98 and 99.   

That given how my questions are framed it would not be unreasonable for me to receive a full answer to my question 2 during this meeting and when agenda item 6 is debated. 

The Chair stated that he since the Committee had not received the questions in advance the questioner would receive a written response in the usual way and that he had taken a note of what Mr Elstone had said.