Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Wednesday, 25th June, 2014 6.30 pm

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

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
42 Apologies and substitutions.
 An apology for absence was received from Councillor Stafford.
43 Declarations of interest.
 The following declarations of interest were made:-

(a) Councillor Betson - Summary Audit Report (Agenda item 4) - Employee of HMRC - Non-pecuniary interest

(b) Councillor Betson - Head of Internal Audit Annual Report 2013/14 (Agenda item 6) - Husband is a Director of a property letting company - Non-pecuniary interest

(c) Councillor Betson - South Essex Homes: Head of Internal Audit Annual Report and Annual Governance Statement 2013/14 (Agenda item 7) - Member of South Essex Homes Board - Non-pecuniary interest

(d) Councillor McMahon - South Essex Homes: Head of Internal Audit Annual Report and Annual Governance Statement 2013/14 (Agenda item 7) - Member of South Essex Homes Board - Non-pecuniary interest

(e) Councillor Ayling - South Essex Homes: Head of Internal Audit Annual Report and Annual Governance Statement 2013/14 (Agenda item 7) - Member of South Essex Homes Board - Non-pecuniary interest
44 Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 26th March, 2014
 Resolved:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26th March 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
45 Summary Audit Progress Report
Business for item 45
Resolved:-

That the summary findings reported from the work completed this quarter, be noted.
46 Corporate Counter Fraud Plan Annual Report 2013/14
Business for item 46
Resolved:-

That the progress made be noted.
47 Head of Internal Audit Annual Report 2013/14
Business for item 47
Resolved:-

1. That the Head of Internal Audit's Annual Report for 2013/14, be accepted.

2. That the contents of the report be appropriately reflected in the Council's Annual Governance Statement.
48 South Essex Homes: Head of Internal Audit Annual Report, Audit Committee Annual Report and the Annual Governance Statement 2013/14
Business for item 48
Resolved:-

That the assurance provided by South Essex Homes regarding the operation of its governance arrangements throughout 2013/14, be accepted.
49 Annual Governance Statement 2013/14
Business for item 49
Resolved:-

That, subject to any further views expressed by External Audit, the Annual Governance Statement for 2013/14 be approved and that it be recommended to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive for authorisation and signature.
50 Corporate Risk Register
Business for item 50
Resolved:

That the 2014/15 Corporate Risk Register, be approved.
51 BDO: Progress Report to those Charged with Governance
Business for item 51
Resolved:-

That the progress made in delivering the Annual Audit Plans for 2012/13 and 2013/14 be noted.
52 BDO: Planning Letter 2013/14
Business for item 52
Resolved:-

That the Planning Letter for 2014/15, be approved.

In accordance with standing order 12.2, Councillor Robertson asked that his abstention from voting be recorded.
53 Information items
 The Committee noted the following documents:-

- CIPFA Better Governance Forum - Audit Committee Update, Issue 13
- Audit Commission - Protecting the Public Purse Briefing for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
18:30/19:50

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor M A Betson (Chairman)
Cllr J McMahon (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors B Ayling, J I Courtenay, A J Moring, J W Moyies, I T Robertson, N D Ward
R Everitt (Co-opted Member)
In attendance:
S Holland, I Ambrose, L Everard, E Allen, T MacGregor, C Gamble, A Lyons, D Kleinberg, D Lincoln (South Essex Homes), D Eagles (BDO) and A Langridge (BDO)

Business

ItemBusiness
45The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services on the progress made in delivering the Internal Audit Strategy for 2013/14.

On consideration of the audit reviews, Members requested to be supplied with information on the outstanding recommendations in relation to the General Ledger review.

Arising from discussion of the Cecil Jones College review, the Head of Internal Audit undertook to provide an update on the review at the September meeting of the Committee.
46The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services presenting the Counter Fraud Service Annual Report.
47The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services providing the rationale for and an audit opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's framework of governance, risk management and control for 2013/14.
48Councillor Robertson took the chair for this item.

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for People presenting the South Essex Homes key annual governance reports for 2013/14.

On consideration of the report, the Director of Finance (SEH) undertook to provide members of the Committee with the data protection action plan.
49The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive & Town Clerk presenting the Council's Annual Governance Statement for 2013/14 together with actions for 2014/15 and an update on progress made with the 2013/14 related actions.
50The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive & Town Clerk presenting the Corporate Risk Register for 2014/15.
51The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services on the progress made in delivering the 2012/13 and 2013/14 Annual Audit Plans.

Members noted that the audit certificates for 2011/12 and 2012/13 continued to remain outstanding. However, the BDO External Auditor anticipated that the Auditor's conclusions would shortly be finalised and that the certificates for both years would be issued. The External Auditor would be reporting to the September meeting of the Committee on the matter.
52The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services presenting the External Audit Planning Letter for 2014/15.

 

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