| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| AU 08/038 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| AU 08/039 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 23 June 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| AU 08/040 |
Investment Update |
The Director of Finance updated the Committee on the current investment position and efforts to safeguard the Council's deposit in the Icelandic bank, Landsbanki. She indicated that a report would be presented to the next Cabinet meeting and would include a list of organisations in which the Council had invested via both the fund managers and the internal team. |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| AU 08/041 |
Allocation of Risk Management Consultancy Allowance |
The report of the Director of Finance sought approval for the further part allocation of a risk management consultancy allowance provided by the Council's insurers in 2007. The Committee was advised that the Chief Leisure Officer had proposed that a review of the Council's Tree Risk Management Procedures by the insurer's consultants be considered for approval at a cost of £3,500 plus travelling expenses. RESOLVED: That the proposal of the Chief Leisure Officer for a review of the Council's Tree Risk Management Procedures be endorsed with associated costs funded from the risk management consultancy allowance. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| AU 08/042 |
Statement of Accounts 2007/08 |
The Director of Finance reported on the outcome of the audit of the Council's Accounts for 2007/08. It was noted that the General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 24 September 2008 had authorised the Chairman to sign the Accounts following which the District Auditor had issued an unqualified opinion. A copy of the District Auditor's Annual Governance Report for 2007/08 was also received and attention drawn to three recommendations made in the report which had been endorsed by the General Purposes Committee. The Chairman welcomed Mr Andy Mack, the new District Auditor, and invited him to comment on the Governance Report and answer Members' questions. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted and appreciation be recorded of the work of the Accountancy team for achievement of a good Annual Governance Report. |
| AU 08/043 |
Audit Commission -Proposed Work Programme and Fee Scales 2009/10 |
The Committee received details of the Audit Commission's proposed Work Programme and Fee Scales for 2009/10 together with indicative fee levels for 2010/11 and 2011/12. Mr Mack explained the new approach upon introduction of the Comprehensive Area Assessment and answered Members' questions on the anticipated fee levels to be applied to the Council. Reference was made to the 10% reduction in the 2007/08 fee scale secured by the Borough Council on the basis of the auditor's assessment of risk and scale and complexity of the audit required. The Director of Finance advised that if the Council continued to receive the 10% reduction, the proposed fee scales could be met from within existing budgets. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/044 |
Confidential Reporting Code |
The Chief Internal Auditor reported the outcome of an investigation of a matter raised under the Confidential Reporting Code involving the car mileage claims of a former employee. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/045 |
Internal Audit Outturn 2007/08 |
Members received a report summarising the work carried out by Internal Audit in the last financial year, the Annual Report of the Chief Internal Auditor having been presented to the Committee on 1 April 2008. A summary was given of the audit reports completed for 2007/08 which had not previously been reported together with a schedule of the outcomes of the high priority recommendations. It was noted that in the opinion of the Chief Internal Auditor the overall levels of assurance indicated that there were sound internal controls operating within the Council. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/046 |
Audit Work to Date 2008/09 |
The report of the Chief Internal Auditor provided a summary of work to date during the current financial year and highlighted any recommendations made. Members raised a number of questions in connection with individual reports including those relating to Development Contributions and Data Protection. In respect of the latter, it was requested that a report be submitted to the Customer Service Improvement Advisory Board. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 08/047 |
National Fraud Initiative 2008 |
The Chief Internal Auditor reported on data supplied by the Council as part of the national data matching exercise carried out by the Audit Commission. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| AU 08/048 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No items were considered in private. |