Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Wednesday, 14th January, 2015 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
543 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Moring (substitute: Cllr Folkard) and Stafford (substitute: Cllr Endersby)
544 Declarations of interest.
 The following declarations of interest were made:

(a) Councillor Betson - matters in relation to South Essex Homes - non-pecuniary interest - member of South Essex Homes Board

(b) Councillor McMahon - matters in relation to South Essex Homes - non-pecuniary interest - member of South Essex Homes Board

(c) Councillor Betson - Counter Fraud & Investigation Report (agenda item 10) - Employee of HMRC - non-pecuniary interest
545 Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 24th September, 2014
 Resolved:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24th September 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
546 Corporate Risk Register 2014/15 - Update
Business for item 546
Resolved:-

That the updated Corporate Risk Register for 2014/15, be noted.
547 Treasury Management Policy
Business for item 547
Resolved:-

That the Treasury Management Policy for 2015/16, be endorsed.
548 BDO: Progress Report to those Charged with Governance
Business for item 548
Resolved:-

That the progress made in delivering the Audit Plans for 2013/14 and 2014/15, be accepted.
549 BDO: Grant Claims and Returns Certificate Report 2013/14
Business for item 549
Resolved:-

That the Grant Claims and Returns Certification Report, be accepted.
550 BDO: Annual Audit Letter 2013/14
Business for item 550
Resolved:-

That the Annual Audit Letter for 2013/14, be approved.
551 Internal Audit Service Quarterly Performance Report
Business for item 551
Resolved:-

1. That the progress made in delivering the 2014/15 Internal Audit Strategy, be noted.

2. That the amendments made to the Audit Plan, be approved.
552 Counter Fraud & Investigation Services Performance Report
Business for item 552
Resolved:-

1. That the developments being made in the service, be noted.

2. That the progress made in delivering the requirements of Fighting Fraud Locally and the Corporate Counter Fraud & Investigation Plan 2014/15, be noted.
553 BDO: Protecting the Public Purse Fraud Briefing 2014, Southend on Sea Borough Council by the Audit Commission
Business for item 553
Resolved:-

That the ‘Protecting the Public Purse Fraud Briefing 2014, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council' report by the Audit Commission, be noted.
554 Information Items
 The Committee noted the following documents:-

- CIPFA Code of Practice on Managing the Risk of Fraud and Corruption
- Audit Commission - Protecting the Public Purse 2014, Fighting Fraud against Local Government, October 2014
- Audit Commission - Regulatory Compliance and Quality Review Programme, Annual Report 2014
555 BDO External Auditor, David Eagles
 In noting that it was David Eagles' last meeting, Members thanked him for his contribution to the work of the Committee.
18:30/20:10

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor M A Betson (Chairman)
Cllr J McMahon (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors B Ayling, J I Courtenay, C J Endersby*, N J Folkard*, J W Moyies, I T Robertson, N D Ward
R Everitt (Co-opted Member)
(* substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
S Holland, J Chesterton, L Everard, G Mortimer, E Allen, A Lyons, D Kleinberg, T MacGregor, C Gamble, D Eagles (BDO) and A Langridge (BDO)

Business

ItemBusiness
546The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting the revised Corporate Risk Register for 2014/15.

On consideration of the report, the following observations were made which the respective officers undertook to consider/address:

• The need for the next version of the Risk Register to take account of the further work being undertaken on the implications of the Care Act 2014
• Reservations about the operational effectiveness of the Health and Wellbeing Board
• The suggestion for future Risk Registers to include predicted scores
547The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services presenting the Treasury Management Policy for 2015/16 comprising the following documents:

- Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2015/16
- Treasury Management Strategy for 2015/16
- Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16
548The Committee considered a report by the BDO External Auditor on the progress made in delivering the 2013/14 and 2014/15 Annual Audit Plans.
549The Committee considered a report of the BDO External Auditor presenting the Auditor's Grant Claims and Returns Certification Report for 2013/14.
550The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services presenting the External Auditor's Annual Audit Letter for 2013/14.

On consideration of the report, the External Auditor provided an update on the position with regard to the outstanding audit certificates for 2011/12 and 2012/13.
551The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services updating Members on the progress made in delivering the Internal Audit Strategy for 2014/15.

On consideration of the report, the Corporate Director for Corporate Services undertook to give consideration to the process for keeping Members informed about the delivery of projects.
552The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services updating Members on the Council's compliance with the Fighting Fraud Locally requirements and the progress made in delivering the Council's Corporate Counter Fraud & Investigation Plan for 2014/15.
553The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services presenting the Audit Commission's ‘Protecting the Public Purse Fraud Briefing 2014'.

 

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