| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| AU 10/015 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| AU 10/016 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 26 January 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| AU 10/017 |
Annual Governance Statement 2009/10 |
The Director of Finance presented the Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2010 which was required to be certified by both the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive for inclusion in the Council's 2009/10 Statement of Accounts. Consideration was given to the Statement, prepared by way of a self assessment questionnaire and supporting evidence, which was annexed to the report. RESOLVED: That (1) the Annual Governance Statement, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed subject to amendment of section 6 to reflect the receipt of reports from both the Management Team and Chairman of the Committee on effectiveness of internal control; and (2) the Annual Governance Statement be recommended for adoption to the General Purposes Committee for inclusion in the 2009/10 Statement of Accounts. |
| AU 10/018 |
Internal Audit Plan 2010/11 |
The Chief Internal Auditor presented the proposed Internal Audit operational plan for the year 2010/11 which had been extracted from the three-year plan following consideration of any changed circumstances. RESOLVED: That the Internal Audit Operational Plan for 2010/11, as set out at the annexes to the report, be adopted. |
| AU 10/019 |
Compliance with International Standards on Auditing |
The report of the Chairman summarised the means by which the Audit Committee exercised oversight of the processes for identifying and reporting on the risk of fraud in order to comply with International Standards on Auditing. It was noted that the responsibilities for corporate governance at Tonbridge and Malling were divided between the Audit Committee and General Purposes Committee. Consequently the suggested response to assurances sought by the District Auditor would need to be endorsed by both committees. Members considered the responses prepared with input from the Chairmen of the respective committees in order to satisfy themselves that the Council was compliant with the International Auditing Standards. It was noted that the Management Team was also required to provide assurance in this regard (see Minute AU 10/024). RESOLVED: That (1) the responses set out in Annex 2 to the report be endorsed and the assurance provided be agreed; and (2) the General Purposes Committee be requested to consider and agree this assurance at its next meeting on 28 June 2010. |
| AU 10/020 |
Protocol for Liaison between Internal and External Audit |
The Chief Internal Auditor introduced a draft protocol designed to provide a framework for the development of an effective working relationship between the Council and the Audit Commission within the bounds of the respective roles of internal and external audit and optimising the benefit to the Council from available audit resources. Reference was made to work undertaken using the framework contained within the protocol to carry out testing using the 'Evaluation Testing Control' checklists to allow the District Auditor to place reliance on the work of Internal Audit. Members were advised that use of the protocol would avoid duplication between internal and external audit and assured that the necessary independence of the two functions would be maintained. RESOLVED: That the draft protocol set out at Annex 1 to the report be adopted. |
| AU 10/021 |
Treasury Management Monitoring Report |
The report of the Director of Finance provided an update in respect of treasury management activities including the position regarding the settlement of the defaulted investment with Landsbanki. The figure at paragraph 1.5.3 of the report relating to investment of core funds was corrected from 6.2% to 6.65%. Members were invited to comment upon and endorse the action taken. RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be endorsed. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| AU 10/022 |
Chief Internal Auditor's Annual Report |
The Committee received the annual report on work carried out by the Internal Audit section during 2009/10 which was required as part of the evidence supporting the conclusions of the Annual Governance Statement. An update was given on the outcome of completed audits undertaken during 2009/10 and Members were advised that it was the opinion of the Chief Internal Auditor that the Council had maintained an adequate and effective internal control environment. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 10/023 |
Update on National Fraud Initiative 2008 |
The Chief Internal Auditor reported on the progress of investigations arising from the National Fraud Initiative 2008. In particular, reference was made to cases where the single person allowance for Council Tax had been reviewed. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 10/024 |
Management Team Confirmation of Compliance with International Auditing Standards |
The Committee received the report of the Management Team confirming compliance with the International Auditing Standards. Reference was made to the similar assurance to be provided by the Audit and General Purposes Committees for which the Management Team report provided supporting evidence (Minute AU 10/019 refers). RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 10/025 |
Review of Operational Risk Registers - December 2009 |
The report of the Director of Finance updated the Committee on the results of a review of the Council's Operational Risk Registers which had been carried out in December 2009. It was noted that the movement of risk continued to be from low to medium although there had been an increase in the number of activities/objectives identified as high risk, details of which were noted at Annex 1 to the report. Members acknowledged the results of the review with particular reference to those items assessed as being high risk at the present time. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 10/026 |
Certification of Claims and Returns - Annual Report |
The Director of Finance presented a report summarising the findings from the certification by the Audit Commission of the 2008/09 housing benefit and council tax benefit subsidy claim, the disabled facilities grant and the non domestic rates return. A copy of the Audit Commission's report was attached as an annex. It was noted that the report concluded that there were satisfactory controls in place although two recommendations had been made to strengthen areas in the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| AU 10/027 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
There were no items considered in private. |