Meeting documents
Audit Committee
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
To Members of the Audit Committee |
Alan Bryden |
Patrick Greene |
Timothy Hallchurch MBE |
Charles Mathew |
Dermot Roaf |
John Sanders |
Craig Simmons |
|
|
Co-opted Members:
Dr Geoff Jones |
|
|
Notes:
· 10:15 am: the pre-meeting informal briefing will be a presentation from Alan Sinclair on Transforming Social Care and Self Directed Support. This topic will look at the major programme of change within Adult Social Care, and in particular focusing on Self Directed Supported where new processes will see clients given greater decision making in meeting their assessed needs, impacting on existing care management and finance systems.
· Date of next meeting: 4 March 2009
If you have any special requirements (such as a large print version of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice as possible before the meeting. |
AGENDA
1. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments
2. Declarations of
Interest – see guidance
note
3. Minutes
To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2008 (AU3) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.
4. Petitions and Public Address
Exempt Item
It is RECOMMENDED that the public be excluded for the Use of Resources section of item 5E since it is likely that if they were present during that item there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to that item and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information on the grounds set out in that item.
THE PART OF THE REPORT RELATING TO THE EXEMPT ITEM HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS STRICTLY PRIVATE TO MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IT.
5.E Annual External Audit Report 2007/08
11:10
Chairman, Corporate Governance Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Lawrie Stratford
Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
The Annual External Audit Report 2006/07 (AU5E) (download as .pdf file) will be presented by the Council’s External Auditors KPMG LLP.
The report summarises the 2007/08 external audit work carried out by KPMG LLP within their areas of audit responsibility.
The public should be excluded during consideration of the Use of Resources section of this item because its discussion in public would be likely to lead to the disclosure to members of the public present of information in the following prescribed category:
· Information which is subject to any obligation of confidentiality
and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RE-ADMISSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report.
6. Safeguarding and Child Protection Services in Oxfordshire
11:30
Cabinet Member for Children, Young People
& Families: Councillor Louise Chapman
Contact: A. Couldrick, Head of Service
Early Years & Family Support
Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (AU6).
The report has been requested to enable the Audit Committee to satisfy itself that policies, procedures, systems and practice are in place to ensure that appropriate action is taken to safeguard and protect children and to minimise the risk of a case occurring in Oxfordshire similar to the recent tragic case of baby P in Haringey.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED:
(a) to note the content of this report;
(b) to accept assurance that appropriate procedures, processes and systems are in place, that these are followed and that Quality Assurance, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are established, on a County Council level and between partner agencies responsible for safeguarding; and
(c) to recognise that, despite these, it is impossible to provide complete assurance as to the safety and well-being of all children and young people at all times.
7. Audit Working Group – 8 January 2009
11:50
Chairman, Corporate Governance Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Lawrie Stratford
Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Ian Dyson, Assistant Head of
Finance (Audit)
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU7).
The report summarises the matters arising from the most recent meeting of the Audit Working Group.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) note the report; and
(b) refer the Project Link – Post-Project Review report to the Change Management Board to consider and to develop an action plan for reporting back to the Committee at a future date.
8. Annual Governance Statement
12:10
Chairman, Corporate Governance Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Lawrie Stratford
Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Peter Clark, County Solicitor and Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Report by County Solicitor and Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU8)
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 as amended by the 2006 Accounts and Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations require that the Council conducts a review at least once a year on the effectiveness of its system of internal control and produces a statement on its effectiveness as part of the Council’s Statement of Accounts. Internal control and risk management are key elements of good Corporate Governance.
The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2007/08 was approved by this Committee on 25 June 2008. The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on progress in achieving actions identified in the AGS 2007/08 and to advise the Committee of the assurance process for 2008/09, including the Internal Control Checklist (ICC) and Risk Registers.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) receive the report;
(b) confirm the governance framework;
(c) note the progress made in achieving actions identified in the 2007/08 Annual Governance Statement; and
(d) note the progress in the assurance process for 2008/09.
9. Financial Management Action Plan
12:30
Chairman, Corporate Governance Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Lawrie Stratford
Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Georgina Paton, Corporate Finance Manager (Corporate & Professional Standards)
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU9).
The report presents the proposed Financial Management Action Plan (FMAP) for review and approval by the Committee. The detailed action plan is attached as Annex 1 to the report.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the progress to date and give any feedback on the quarterly monitoring report to the Chief Finance Officer so that it can be incorporated in the work undertaken by the Financial Management Action Plan (FMAP).
10. Review of the Process for Reporting on the Effectiveness of the System of Internal Audit
12:50
Chairman, Corporate Governance Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Lawrie Stratford
Cabinet Member for Finance: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Ian Dyson, Assistant Head of
Finance (Audit)
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU10).
In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (Amended 2006), the Council is required to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the system of Internal Audit. The report details for the consideration and approval of the Committee the assurance framework and suggested process for undertaking and reporting on the review.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) approve the existing process for reviewing the effectiveness of the System of Internal Audit, or instruct officers on changes required to the process for 2008/09;
(b) approve the circulation list, content and format of the Annual Survey Questionnaire; and
(c) authorise the Monitoring Officer to undertake the review and report back to the Audit Committee.
11. September 2009 Audit Committee Meeting Date
1:00
The Committee is asked to consider bringing forward its 30 September 2009 meeting to 23 September 2009 in order to enable the Chief Finance Officer to meet the statutory deadline for publication of the Accounts.
12. Work Programme 2009/10
1:05
To review / update the Committee’s Work Programme (AU12).
1:10 Close of Meeting