Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Tuesday, 19 June 2012

audit committee

MINUTES of the Meeting held in the Committee Room, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne on Tuesday 19 June 2012 from 7:00 pm to 7:19 pm.

Present: Councillor Nicholas Hampshire (Chairman), Councillors Andy Booth, John Coulter, Harrison, Mike Henderson, Peter Marchington and Ted Wilcox.

Officers Present: Katherine Bescoby, Brian Parsons and Nick Vickers.

Apologies: Councillor Prescott; Steve Golding, Audit Commission; and Mark Radford.

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minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 23 May 2012 (Minute Nos. 22 - 27) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 
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declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

 
 

part a minutes for confirmation by council

 
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annual governance statement

The Committee was asked to agree the Annual Governance Statement, which would then be submitted to Council for approval. In introducing the report, the Head of Finance advised that it was a factual report and he drew attention to the three Significant Governance Issues outlined in paragraph 5.3 of the Statement. In respect of the third issue, Risk Management, he advised that training sessions would be held with senior officers and Cabinet Members and there would be a further report back to the Committee in due course.

RECOMMENDED:
(1) That the Annual Governance Statement be approved.
 
 

part b minutes for information

 
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audit committee annual report 2011/12

The Committee considered the Audit Committee Annual Report 2011/12. The Head of Audit Partnership outlined the report and invited feedback on the document, which would be submitted to a future meeting of the full Council. The Head of Audit Partnership advised that typographical errors would be corrected.

There was some discussion regarding attendance at the Committee by other Members, and members of the public.

In respect of the terms of reference of the Committee, it was suggested that the wording of No. 4 could be updated to make it clear that the Committee could give feedback and decide not to approve the internal audit strategy and annual audit plan. The Head of Audit Partnership confirmed that the wording was based on CIPFA guidance, to ensure that the role of internal audit remained independent; however, they did take on board any feedback from the Audit Committee.

The Head of Finance advised that the terms of reference of the Committee should also include oversight of treasury management and he would investigate this further.

RESOLVED:

(1) That the format and content of the Annual Committee report be agreed, subject to amendments to typographical errors.

(2) That the Chairman of the Audit Committee provides the report to a meeting of the Full Council to demonstrate how the Committee has discharged its duties.
 
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audit committee work programme

The Committee considered the draft Audit Committee work programme. As this report was incomplete, it was agreed that it would be updated and circulated to Members. Updates were needed, in particular, to reflect the work programme set out in the annual report; the format of previous work programmes; the political party of Councillor Henderson; and the font of pictures.

 
All Minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the Committee/Panel

View the Agenda for this meeting