Issue - meetings

The Committee is asked to approve commencing a Self-Assessment review of the Committee and associated arrangements against CIPFA Guidance and checklist and broader best practice for Audit Committees.

This item was considered after item 7, “External Audit Plan”.

It was proposed by Councillor Woodward, seconded by Councillor Howkins and resolved to exclude the public and press for the discussion of this agenda item, in accordance with paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial of business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee received a presentation on undertaking a CIPFA Audit Committee Self-Assessment. The self-assessment would include a review of the effectiveness of the Audit Committee, how the Committee deals with guidance, and the Council’s arrangements for risk management. The review would seek to address the recommendations from the Best Value Inspection and External Audit, consider any areas where the scope of the Committee’s work could be strengthened, and identify areas for improvement and develop an improvement plan. This would be presented at a future meeting.

The Committee noted the guidance had been issued in 2022, but had not been incorporated into the Council’s Audit Committee arrangements. This was something that could be considered as part of the self-assessment.

Councillor Saliagopoulos left the meeting 21:22.

It was proposed by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Howkins and resolved to suspend Standing Orders for the meeting to continue until 10.30pm.

The actions that would be taken as part of the self-assessment, and how any recommendations would be dealt with would be presented to the Committee in the future.

The Committee resolved to approve commencing a Self-Assessment review of the Committee and associated arrangements against CIPFA Guidance and checklist and broader best practice for Audit Committees.