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To consider:
Audit Activity Proposed
Arrangements
1. Action: To
consider the Head of Internal Audit’s annual report and opinion,
and a summary of Internal Audit activity (actual and proposed) and
the level of assurance it can give over the Council’s corporate
governance arrangements.
Method: Report will
still go to Cabinet with a reference to the Audit Committee which
will ensure that the Cabinet have satisfactorily addressed all the
issues. The opportunity will be taken to review the format content
and timing of these reports.
2. Action: To consider summaries of
specific Internal Audit reports as requested.
Method: As 1
above
3. Action: To
consider reports dealing with the management and performance of
Internal Audit Services, including consideration and endorsement of
the 3 year Strategic Internal Audit Plan.
Method: Covered
above
4. Action: To
consider any report from Internal Audit on agreed recommendations
not implemented
within a reasonable timescale.
Method: As 1
above
5. Action: To
consider the External Auditor’s Annual Letter, relevant reports,
and the report to those charged with governance.
Method: The letters
and reports will still go to Cabinet but the Audit Committee will
be responsible for ensuring that the Cabinet have satisfactorily
addressed all issues.
6. Action: To
consider specific reports as agreed with the External
Auditor.
Method: Audit
Committee or Cabinet Member whichever requested the report.
7.
Action: To comment on the scope and depth of
external audit work and to ensure it gives value for money.
Method: Audit
Committee annual review linked to Audit Plan and Management
Letter.
8. Action: To
liaise with the Audit Commission over the appointment of the
Council’s external auditor.
Method: Report
direct to Audit Committee.
9. Action: To
commission work from Internal and External Audit.
Method: Work can either be commissioned by
Cabinet or the Audit Committee.
Regulatory
Framework
10. Action: To maintain an overview of the
Council’s Constitution in respect of contract procedure rules,
financial regulations and codes of conduct and behaviour.
Method: Standards
Committee will deal with the detail of any proposed changes.
However, the Audit Committee will take a broad overview to ensure
that the regulatory or governance framework is not weakened,
followed by a report to Council.
11. Action: To
review any issue referred to it by the Chief Executive or a
Director, or any Council body.
Method: Where
relevant, the Audit Committee will deal with specific issues
directly.
12. Action: To
monitor the effective development and operation of risk management
and corporate governance in the Council.
Method: The Cabinet
will be still responsible for risk management and corporate
governance in detail; however, the Audit Committee will take the
overview and ensure that strategically the risk management and
corporate governance arrangements protect the Council.
13. Action:
To monitor council policies on ‘Raising Concerns at Work’ and
the ‘Anti fraud and corruption’ strategy.
Method: Cabinet
with the Audit Committee giving the overview and making
recommendations.
14. Action: To
oversee the production of the authority’s Statement on Internal
Control and to agree its adoption.
Method: Cabinet
then reference to Audit Committee who will now receive and agree
the Statement of Internal Control and recommend its adoption to
Council.
15. Action: The
Council’s arrangements for corporate governance and
agreeing necessary actions to ensure compliance with best
practice.
Method: Cabinet
then reference to the Audit Committee who will receive Annual
review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance and make
recommendations to either Cabinet or Council for any proposed
amendments, as necessary.
16. Action: To
consider whether safeguards are in place to secure the Council’s
compliance with its own and other published standards and
controls.
Method: Current
arrangements to continue with periodic reviews at the direction of
the Audit Committee.
Accounts
17. Action:
To review the annual statement of accounts. Specifically to
consider whether appropriate accounting policies have been followed
and whether there are concerns arising from the financial
statements or from the audit that need to be brought to the
attention of the Executive or Council.
Method: The summary
balance sheet only will be reported to Cabinet as part of its
Budgetary Control/Budget Strategy arrangements. The full statement
of accounts will be reported to the Audit Committee who will
recommend the accounts to Council.
18. Action: To consider the External
Auditor’s report to those charged with governance on issues arising
from the audit of the accounts.
Method: The
External Auditor’s report will still be reported to all Members.
The Audit Committee will receive the report and make
recommendations to Cabinet and/or Council relating to any issues
arising from the report. The operation of this will depend on the
deadline for receipt and consideration of this report.
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