| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| AU 08/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| AU 08/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 23 October 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| AU 08/003 |
District Audit Arrangements |
Lindsey Mallors, District Auditor, reported on changes to district audit arrangements proposed by the Audit Commission in preparation for Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). She also advised the Committee that both she and Paul Chambers, the Council's relationship manager, would be moving on and transitional arrangements would apply until successors were in post. The Chairman thanked the district audit team for their work and wished Ms Mallors well in her future position. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| AU 08/004 |
Code of Corporate Governance |
Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive which presented a draft Code of Corporate Governance which had been revised in the light of new CIPFA/SOLACE guidance designed to capture the developments in corporate governance that had evolved since the original framework. RECOMMENDED: That the draft Local Code of Corporate Governance set out at Annex 2 to the report be commended to the Council for adoption. |
| AU 08/005 |
Update on Risk Management |
Further to Minute AU 07/038, the Director of Finance reported on changes in the approach to applying risk management following the review carried out by Zurich Municipal. Consideration was given to a proposed action plan and to the formal identification of a Member and Officer as Risk Champions. The Committee was also advised that the Director of Health and Housing had proposed that a review of the management of health and safety be undertaken and funded from the risk management consultancy allowance provided by the Council's insurers in respect of risk management initiatives. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the action plan set out at Annex 1 to the report be approved; (2) the Audit Committee Chairman and the Chief Internal Auditor be named as Risk Champions; and (3) the proposal of the Director of Health and Housing for a review of the management of health and safety within the Council be accepted for funding from the risk management consultancy allowance. |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| AU 08/006 |
Regularity Report |
The Committee received the Regularity Report setting out the detailed findings of the audit of the Council's 2006/07 Statement of Accounts carried out by the Audit Commission. It was noted that the work had been undertaken in two stages pre and post approval of the accounts in June 2007 and a completed action plan in response to each of the recommendations was included in the report. RESOLVED: That the report and completed action plan be noted and endorsed. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| AU 08/007 |
Auditor's Report on Best Value Performance Plan 2007/08 |
The Chief Executive submitted the District Auditor's report on the Council's Best Value Performance Plan ('Spotlight') for 2007/08. It was noted that there were no matters or recommendations drawn to the Committee's attention. Members questioned the need for such reports and their frequency given the Council's expectation of a 'lighter touch' approach as an excellent rated authority. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/008 |
Use of Resources Assessment 2007 Results and Use of Resources 2009 Consultation Paper |
The joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Finance gave details of the results of the Use of Resources Assessment 2007 from which it was noted that the Council had received an overall score of 4 denoting 'Well above minimum requirements - performing strongly'. The Committee was pleased to note that the Council was one of only 13 district authorities in the country to receive the top overall score and one of six with a rating of 4 for financial management. Lindsey Mallors, District Auditor, congratulated the Council on its achievement. A copy of the response to the Use of Resources 2009 consultation paper approved by the Cabinet on 5 February 2008 (Decision No D080035CAB) was set out in Annex 2 to the report. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/009 |
Audit Commission - Proposed Work Programme and Fee Scales 2008/09 |
The Director of Finance reported receipt of a document from the Audit Commission regarding the proposed work programme and fee scales for 2008/09 together with indicative proposals for 2009/10 and 2010/11. It was noted that there would be an above inflation increase in audit fees over the three year period although it was hoped that the Audit Commission would use its discretion to reduce the Council's fee to the current budget provision in anticipation that the work required would be substantially below that envisaged by the scale fee. A copy of the Local Government Association response to the proposed fee levels was set out at Annex 2 to the report. Members expressed concern about the proposed level of fees in the context of the pressure on the Council's budgets and the additional requirements imposed by the Government. The District Auditor was asked to feed back these concerns to the Audit Commission. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/010 |
Update of Audit Work 2007/08 |
The report of the Chief Internal Auditor updated the Committee on the work carried out during 2007/08 and indicated that there were no matters raised within the report that would have a material effect on the accounts of the Council. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/011 |
Report of Benefits Subsidy Audit 2006/07 |
The report of the Director of Finance gave details of the outcome of the Audit Commission's audit of the Council's benefits subsidy claim for 2006/07. It was noted that the balance owed to the Council by the Department for Work and Pensions was £346,116 and that two issues had been raised as qualification points in respect of location of missing case files (now resolved) and single person discounts. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/012 |
Consultation on the 2008 Local Authority Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) |
The Director of Finance presented a response to the proposed changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom, A Statement of Recommended Practice (The SORP) for 2008 which governed the way in which the Council's Statement of Accounts was prepared. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| AU 08/013 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
The Chairman moved, it was seconded and RESOLVED: That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| AU 08/014 |
Confidential Reporting Code (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 7 - Prevention, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences) |
The Chief Internal Auditor reported on a case currently being investigated as a result of a concern raised through the Confidential Reporting Code. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/015 |
Insurance Claims History 2007/08 (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 3 - Financial or business affairs of any particular person) |
The Director of Finance reported on the nature and volume of liability and property damage insurance claims submitted during the period April - December 2007. Where appropriate the summary showed action taken to reduce the risk of similar claims arising in the future. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |