Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Wednesday, 28th March, 2012 6.30 pm

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

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
871 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kelly and Woodley.
872 Declarations of interest.
 The following declarations of interest were made:-

(a) Councillor Betson - Grants Claim Certification for the Year ended 31 March 2011 - (Agenda item 6) - Employee of HMRC - personal.

(b) Councillor Lamb - Grants Claim Certification for the Year ended 31 March 2011 - Agenda item 6) - prejudicial (withdrew in relation to discussion on Renaissance Southend Ltd).
873 Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 12th January, 2012
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 12th January 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.
874 Action Points from January 2012 Meeting
 (i) Audit Plan (Minute 662).

It was noted that a paper would be produced for submission to the next meeting of the Committee outlining the salient matters in connection with the transfer of public health responsibilities.

ii) Treasury Management (Minute 663)

It was noted that Members had received the requested benchmarking data on borrowing levels.

(iii) Governance Statement (Minute 666)

It was noted that a briefing on procuring services from other organisations, particularly the voluntary sector and charities would take place at the end of the June meeting.
875 PKF: Progress Report to Those Charged with Governance
Business for item 875
Resolved:-

That the progress made in delivering the Annual Audit Plan for 2010/11 and 2011/12, be accepted.
876 PKF: Grants Claim Certification for the Year ended 31 March 2011
Business for item 876
Resolved:-

That the submitted report be accepted.

(ACTION: Head of Finance and Resources/Corporate Director for Enterprise, Tourism and the Environment)
877 Local Code of Governance: Annual Review
Business for item 877
Resolved:-

That the refreshed Local Code of Governance be referred to Cabinet for consideration.
878 Risk Management Update Report
Business for item 878
Resolved:-

That the progress made in implementing the Council's Risk Management and Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategies, be noted.

(ACTION: Senior Policy Advisor)
879 Summary Audit Progress Report
Business for item 879
Resolved:-

That the report be accepted.
880 PKF: Interim Audit Progress Report to Those Charged with Governance
Business for item 880
Resolved:-

That the progress made in delivering the interim audit for 2011/12, be noted.
881 Internal Terms of Reference, Strategy and Audit Plan for 2012/13
Business for item 881
Resolved:-

That the Terms of Reference, Strategy and Audit Plan for 2012/13, be approved.
882 Information Items
 The Committee noted the following reports:-

• CIPFA Better Governance Forum Audit Committee Update: Helping Audit Committees to be Effective: Issue 7(b)
• Ofsted Report on the Adoption Service
18:30/20:40

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr I T Robertson (Chairman), Cllr C W Walker (Vice-Chairman), Cllr M A Betson, Cllr P M Collins, Cllr R E Hadley, Cllr J L Lamb, Cllr J McMahon
In attendance:
L Everard, J Chesterton, G Mortimer, E Allen, T MacGregor, C Gamble, A Barnes (PKF) and D Eagles (PKF)

Business

ItemBusiness
875The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk on the progress made in delivering the 2010/11 and 2011/12 Annual Audit Plan.
876The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting the External Auditor's Grants Report for 2010/11.

On consideration of the report and the response to the questions submitted by Councillor McMahon, the Head of Finance and Resources undertook to confirm the specific officer cost of the issues encountered in the housing and council tax benefit claim and as part of quarterly updates to the Committee to provide the position with regard to officer training on benefit assessments.

The Corporate Director for Enterprise, Tourism and the Environment would provide a written response to the questions submitted by Councillor McMahon in relation to the Digital Exploration Centre.

In noting that an action plan had been produced to secure improvements to the arrangements for grant claims and returns, Members requested that the plan be submitted to the Committee on a quarterly basis for review until they were satisfied that this would no longer be necessary.
877The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting the updated Local Code of Governance (the Code).
878The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk updating Members on the delivery of the Council's Risk Management and Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategies.

On consideration of the report, officers undertook to address the matters raised at the meeting in connection with the risk methodology as part of the development of the revised Corporate Risk Strategy and Register which would be submitted to the June meeting.
879The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting the summary progress report on the delivery of Internal Audit's strategy and performance targets for 2011/12.
880The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk on progress made in delivering the interim audit as part of the 2011/12 Annual Audit Plan.
881The Committee received a report by the Chief Executive and Town Clerk presenting Internal Audit's Terms of Reference, Strategy and Audit Plan for 2012/13.

 

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