| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| AU 07/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| AU 07/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 24 October 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| AU 07/003 |
CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal Auditors in Local Government in the United Kingdom |
The Director of Finance reported that a new Code of Practice for Internal Audit had been issued by CIPFA in December 2006, one of the significant additions being a check list to benchmark compliance with the Code. There was also a requirement for Internal Audit Sections to be assessed by an external body agreed by the Audit Committee and Members were advised that discussions had taken place within the Kent Audit Group for 'quid-pro-quo' arrangements to take place to fulfil this requirement. The Committee would be asked to endorse this approach at a future meeting. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/004 |
Interim Report on the Work of Internal Audit for 2006/07 |
The Committee was advised of the outcome of work carried out by the Internal Audit Section up to the end of January 2007. A summary of audits carried out from the 2006/07 Audit Plan was set out in the Annex to the report, providing a brief explanation of the audit objective, the level of assurance given by the auditor and indicating action taken on any high priority recommendations. It was noted that overall the levels of assurance revealed that there were sound internal controls operating within the Council. Members raised a number of detailed questions on several of the audits and requested that in cases where the control assurance level was judged to be 'limited' or where improvements had been identified, a further report be presented to a future meeting on progress with implementation. Suggestions were also made regarding the inclusion of the auditor's recommendations within future presentations of the outcome of audits and information as to whether any had not been accepted by managers. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/005 |
Confidential Reporting Code |
The report of the Director of Finance gave details of the outcomes of investigations into concerns about personal use of the Council's telephone by agency temporary staff which had been raised using the Confidential Reporting Code. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/006 |
National Fraud Initiative |
Members were advised that the data arising from the National Fraud Initiative Exercise in which the Council was obliged to participate had now been made available. An update would be provided on the outcome of any investigations resulting from the referrals identified by the exercise. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/007 |
Consultation on the 2007 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 2007. It was noted that the SORP governed the way in which the Council's Statement of Accounts was prepared and the proposed response had been approved by the General Purposes Committee on 5 February 2007. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/008 |
Changes in Presentation of the Statement of Accounts |
The report of the Director of Finance gave details of changes to the presentation of the Statement of Accounts with effect from 2006/07. Illustrative examples were given of the replacement of the Consolidated Revenue Account with a new Income and Expenditure Account and the replacement of the Statement of Total Movement in Reserves with a Statement of Recognised Gains and Losses. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| AU 07/009 |
Audit Commission - Proposed Work Programme and Fee Scales 2007/08 |
The Director of Finance reported receipt of the Audit Commission's work programme and fee scales for 2007/08. It was noted that in addition to this high-level work programme each year the Commission's appointed auditors also drew up detailed plans based on an assessment of the financial and operational risks facing the organisation and the arrangements put in place to manage those risks. Such plans would be reported to Members when received. Mr Golding, the Audit Manager, explained the way in which the fees were calculated having regard to elements of risk. He offered to make a presentation to the next meeting on the work of his service. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| AU 07/010 |
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 07/011 |
Insurance Claims History 2006/07 (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 claims submitted during the period April - December 2006 and presented a summary of the action taken to reduce the risk of similar claims arising in the future. Members raised questions on a number of the claims and officers undertook to include the circumstances of each case and details of progress in future reports to the Committee. RESOLVED: That the claims history and actions taken be noted. |