Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the decisions of the meeting held on 8 December 2011 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Alex Brodkin.

There were no interests declared.

Details are appended of the questions asked of, and the answers given by the Chairman.  Verbal responses were given to supplementary questions at the meeting.

There were no Members’ Items.

The Head of the Corporate Anti Fraud Team (CAFT)introduced the report.

RESOLVED –

(1)   That the Audit Committee endorses the Bribery Policy Statement and Procedure – Counter Fraud Framework.

(2)   That the Audit Committee endorses the Corporate Anti Fraud Team (CAFT) Strategy 2012-2013.

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report.   The Committee made an additional observation as set out in (3) below.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the Audit Committee endorses the Internal Audit, Risk Management and Corporate Anti Fraud (CAFT) Annual Plan for 2012-13.

(2)              That the Audit Committee approves the Internal Audit Strategy for 2012-13.

(3)               That the Audit Committee notes in risk management terms that in the event of the requirement of an increased internal audit service there might be an associated budget requirement.

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report.  For the service areas that had received a limited assurance, the Heads of Services or their representatives were asked questions by the Committee.

The Chairman requested that for the June 2012 meeting of the Committee, for any service area with a limited or no assurance audit, the Director or the Assistant Director be requested to attend the meeting.

RESOLVED - That the Committee note the contents of the report and the high priority recommendations for follow-up in future periods.

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report. 

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the contents of the report and the actions being taken to address some cases of non implementation of recommendations.

The Assistant Director Financial Services introduced the report.  Mr Tom Foster of Grant Thornton LLP also spoke to the report.

RESOLVED –   That Officer response to the matters raised by the External Auditors be noted.

Mr Tom Foster of Grant Thornton LLP introduced the report. 

RESOLVED – That Grant Thornton’s Audit Plan for 2011/12 be noted.

The Assistant Director Financial Services introduced the report. 

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the ongoing review Financial Regulations.

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report. 

RESOLVED - That the revised Risk Management Policy Statement and Strategy be noted as the policy and procedure by which the Authority will identify, manage, monitor and report risks.

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report. 

RESOLVED

(1)               That the annual review of the Audit Committee’s effectiveness in 2011/12 and the recommendations made, attached at Appendix A to the report, be noted.

(2)               The Committee considered the Terms of Reference as set out in the in the Constitution and at Appendix A to the report (role and structure section), and did not make any recommendations for change to the Special Committee (Constitution Review).

The Assistant Director of Finance - Audit and Risk Management introduced the report. 

RESOLVED – That the programme of work for the Committee as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

The Commercial Director introduced the report.  The Assistant Director of Commercial Assurance also addressed the Committee.

RESOLVED

The Committee noted a typographical error to paragraph 1.2 of the report in that the second line should read “the June Audit Committee”.

(1)               That the Committee note the contents of the report and the actions being taken to address the findings within the internal audit report.

(2)               That the Assistant Director of Commercial Assurance report to the June Audit Committee providing assurance that the actions have been implemented in line with the recommendations.

It being the last meeting of the municipal year 2011/2012, the Vice-Chairman and the Committee thanked the Chairman for the courteous and effective way he had conducted the meetings of the Audit Committee in 2011/2012.

The Chairman thanked the members of the Committee and the Officers and for the support he had received from them during the municipal year.  The Chairman also thanked members of the public for their contribution during the municipal year 2011/2012.

There were no urgent items.