Meeting documents
Audit Committee
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
To Members of the Audit Committee |
Alan Armitage |
Roy Darke |
Timothy Hallchurch MBE |
A.M. Lovatt |
Charles Mathew |
Larry Sanders |
LawrieStratford |
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|
Co-opted Members:
Dr Geoff Jones |
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Notes:
· a working lunch will be available at 1.00 pm
· an explanation of abbreviations & acronyms is enclosed
· Date of next meeting: 23 September 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 meetings held on 24 April 2009 (AU3(a)) and 16 June 2009 (AU3(b)) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.
4. Petitions and Public Address
5. Internal Audit Services - Annual Report of the Head of Internal Audit 2008/09
11:10
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Ian Dyson, Assistant Head of
Finance (Audit)
Report by Assistant Head of Finance (Audit) (AU5) (download as .doc file).
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (as amended 2006) require the Council to maintain an adequate and effective system of internal audit of its accounting records and of its system of internal control in accordance with the proper internal audit practices. Proper practice is defined as the CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal Audit in Local Government 2006 (the Code). In accordance with the Code, the Head of Internal Audit, (Assistant Head of Finance (Audit)), is required to provide a written report to those charged with Governance, timed to support the Annual Governance Statement, which should include an opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Council’s control environment.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report.
6. Annual Governance Statement 2008/09
11:30
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Peter Clark, County Solicitor and Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Report by the County Solicitor and Chief Finance Officer (AU6).
The County Council has approved and adopted a code of corporate governance, which is consistent with the principles of the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework Delivering Good Governance in Local Government. Corporate governance is the framework of accountability to users, stakeholders and the wider community, within which organisations take decisions, and lead and control their functions, to achieve their objectives. The quality of corporate governance arrangements is a key determinant of the quality for services provided by organisations. This statement explains how the County Council has complied with the Code and also meets the requirements of regulation 4(2) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006 in relation to the publication of a Statement on Internal Control.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 for inclusion in the annual Statement of Accounts, subject to the County Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, making any necessary amendments in the light of comments made by the Committee.
7. Arrangements for the Public Inspection of the Accounts
11:50
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU7).
At the Audit Committee meeting on 24 September 2008 officers agreed to report on the arrangements for the inspection of the accounts in advance of the inspection period commencing. This report sets out the arrangements for 2008/09.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note and approve the arrangements in place for the public inspection of the 2008/09 accounts
8. Statement of Accounts 2008/09
12:00
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU8).
The report presents the 2008/09 Statement of Accounts.
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (as amended) require, by 30 June, the Statement of Accounts to be considered by a committee of the Council and following that consideration, to be approved by a resolution of that committee. The Regulations also require that, following approval, the Statement of Accounts should be signed and dated by the chairman of the committee.
An overview of the financial position of the Council at 31 March 2009 is contained in the Foreword.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:
(a) consider and approve the Statement of Accounts for 2008/09 (signed by the Chairman of the Committee) for submission to the Auditor; and
(b) note the Summary Accounts 2008/09 for inclusion in the Annual Report 2009.
9. Audit Commission Plan for 2009/10
12:40
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact: Sue Scane, Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (Audit Commission to present the Plan)
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer (AU9) (download as .pdf file).
The Plan (AU9) sets out the audit work which the Audit Commission proposes to undertake for 2009/10.
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider and note the Plan.
1:00 Working Lunch
10. Audit Working Group - AWG Chairman's Annual Review of Activities 2008/09
1:10
Chairman, Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny
Committee: Councillor Dr. Peter Skolar
Cabinet Member for Finance & Property: Councillor C.H. Shouler
Contact:
Dr. Geoff Jones, Chairman of the Audit Working Group will present an overview of the Working Group’s activities in 2008/09 (AU10) (download as .doc file).
The Committee is RECOMMENDED to receive the Annual Review report.
11. Audit Working Group – Membership
1:40
To appoint to the Audit Working Group:
· three County Councillors, including the Chairman of the Audit Committee, with three named substitutes;
and
· one independent member drawn from the Audit Committee (who will Chair the Group)
in accordance with its terms of reference.
12. Audit Committee Provisional Work Programme 2009/10
1:50
To determine the Committee’s Work Programme (AU12).
2:00 Close of Meeting
Audit Committee
Explanation of Abbreviations and Acronyms
The following is a list of abbreviations and acronyms that have occurred in reports to the Audit Committee, or during discussions at their meetings. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of those used throughout the Council, however it will be reviewed prior each Audit Committee Meeting and updated should new examples occur.
Ian Dyson
Assistant Head of Finance (Audit)
Updated 24 June
2008
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