Meeting documents
Audit Committee
Thursday, 8 March 2012
audit committee
MINUTES of the Meeting held in the Committee Room, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne on Thursday 8 March 2012 from 7:00 pm to 7:58 pm.
Present: Councillor Nicholas Hampshire (Chairman), Councillor Prescott (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Andy Booth, Pat Sandle and Ted Wilcox.
Officers Present: Jennifer Daughtry, James Freeman, Joanne Hammond, Andrew Jeffers, Brian Parsons, Mark Radford and Nick Vickers (Swale Borough Council) and Steve Golding and Andy Mack (Audit Commission).
Apologies: Councillors June Garrad, Harrison, Mike Haywood and Mike Henderson.
578 |
minutesThe Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 December 2011 (Minute Nos. 440 - 446) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. |
579 |
declarations of interestNo interests were declared. |
part b minutes for information |
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580 |
internal audit report - planning servicesThe Chairman welcomed the Head of Planning and the Development Manager to the meeting. He explained that, following concerns expressed by the Committee regarding the audits of Development Control Enforcement and Section 106 agreements, which had both received limited assurances, Officers had been invited to provide an update on improvements undertaken to-date. With regard to Section 106 agreements, the Chairman particularly raised concern that only five of the ten recommendations had been implemented. He then referred to the Development Control Enforcement audit and proposed that a further report be provided to the Audit Committee within six months. RESOLVED:
(1) That the report and update from the Head of Planning be noted and that a further report back to the Audit Committee be provided within six months. |
part a minute for confirmation by council |
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581 |
certification of claims and returns - annual reportThe District Auditor (Audit Commission) introduced the certification of claims and returns - annual report, which set out the results of the 2010/11 certification work in relation to housing and Council Tax benefit scheme, National Non-Domestic Rates return and disabled facilities. He confirmed that all the recommendations arising from the previous years' report had been actioned successfully and there were only minor issues. RECOMMENDED:
(1) That the certification of claims and returns - annual report be noted. |
part b minutes for information |
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582 |
audit committee updateThe District Auditor (Audit Commission) introduced the report which provided an update on progress with delivery of responsibilities as the Council's external auditors, an update on the externalisation of the Audit Practice and highlighted key emerging national issues and developments. He advised that the 2011/12 audit work was progressing well and there were no matters of concern to-date. RESOLVED:
(1) That the Audit Committee Update be noted and that the Chairman liaises with the Head of Finance regarding the completion of Appendix One for submission to the Audit Commission. |
583 |
audit plan 2011/12The District Auditor (Audit Commission) introduced the report which outlined the work for the 2011/12 audit including the key milestones and deadlines. He confirmed that good plans were in place and referred Members to page 15 of the report which confirmed a five per cent reduction in the audit fee for 2011/12. RESOLVED:
(1) That the Audit Plan 2011/12 be noted. |
584 |
future of local public auditThe Head of Finance introduced the report which updated the Committee on the latest position on the appointment of external auditors to local councils after the abolition of the Audit Commission. RESOLVED:
(1) That the latest position on the future of local public audit be noted. |
585 |
internal audit operational plan 2012/13The Internal Audit Manager introduced the report which set out the Internal Audit one-year operational plan for 2012/13. She advised that the following three audits would be rolled forward from 2011/12: leisure centre management, health and safety and CCTV as they had not been completed in the current year due to resource issues. The Council would be advertising for a Senior Auditor and it was hoped that the recruitment process would be completed by the end of April 2012. RESOLVED:
(1) That the contents of the Internal Audit one-year operational plan for 2012/13 be noted. |
586 |
audit committee work programmeThe Committee reviewed the work programme and the Head of Internal Audit Partnership confirmed that a report on the review of the Audit Committee - Action Plan would be submitted to the next Audit Committee meeting in May 2012. RESOLVED:
(1) That the work programme be noted. |
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