Minutes for Audit & Governance Committee meeting, Apr 26 2010, 5.30PM official page

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

No interests were declared at this point.  However, Cllr Scott declared a personal and prejudicial interest in that part of Annex 1 to agenda item 12 (Audit and Counter Fraud Mid-Term Monitor) relating to music tuition fees when that matter came under discussion, as his wife worked in the Council’s music tuition department.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex B to Agenda Item 8 (Key Corporate Risk Monitor Quarter Four 2009/10) on the grounds that it contains information relating to negotiations in connection with a labour relations matter arising between the authority and employees of the authority.  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 4 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Annex B to agenda item 8 (Key Corporate Risk Monitor Quarter Four 2009/10), on the grounds that it contains information relating to negotiations in connection with a labour relations matter arising between the authority and employees of the authority.  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 4 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Audit & Governance Committee held on 15 February 2010.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Audit & Governance Committee meeting held on 15 February 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Friday 23 April 2010.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report presents the future plan of reports expected to be presented to the Committee to February 2011. It includes any training/briefing events to support members in their role on the Committee.

Members considered a report which presented a plan of reports expected to be brought to future meetings of the Committee up to February 2011, including any training / briefing events to support Members in their role.

It was noted that more detailed training might be required should new members be appointed to the Committee at the Annual Council in May.

RESOLVED: That the Committee’s Forward Plan for the period up to December 2010 be noted.

REASON:      To ensure that the Committee receives regular reports, in accordance with the functions of an effective audit committee.

This report presents the Audit Commission’s Annual Audit Plan for 2010/11, and associated fee structure.

Members considered a report which presented the Audit Commission’s Annual Audit Plan for 2010/11 and associated fee structure.  The draft Inspection Plan, covering the Comprehensive Area Assessment, was still under discussion and would be presented to the Committee in June.  The Audit Manager was in attendance to respond to any questions.

The Audit Plan, attached as Annex A to the report, set out the work to be conducted by the District Auditor, who had taken account of inherent risks arising from previous audit work at the Council and the requirements of the Code of Audit Practice. 

In response to Members’ questions on the National Fraud Initiative, the Audit Manager explained that this was a data matching exercise that took place every 3 years, concentrating mainly on Housing Benefit fraud.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the matters set out in the Audit Plan presented by the District Auditor be noted.

REASON:      To ensure the effective deployment of scarce external audit resources to best effect.

(ii) That the Audit Plan be agreed as sufficiently reflecting the audit needs and interests of the Council.

REASON:      To ensure that the external audit and inspection process contributes effectively to the Council’s system of internal control.

This paper introduces a report by the Audit Commission setting out their findings from a recent review of the Council’s arrangements for internal audit.

Members considered a report which introduced a report by the Audit Commission setting out their findings from a recent review of the Council’s arrangements for internal audit.

The Audit Commission’s report was attached as Annex 1.  The review had concluded that the internal audit service provided by Veritau continued to meet its professional and statutory duties.  No significant areas of concern had been identified and no recommendations for improvement made.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

REASON:      In accordance with the committee’s responsibility for overseeing the work of internal audit.

This report presents details of the revised risks associated with the refreshed Key Corporate Risks (KCRs) as at the fourth quarter for 2009/10.