Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Woodley (no substitute).

There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 16^th January 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the External Auditor’s Grant Claim and Return Certification Report for 2017/18.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by officers.  In reference to teachers’ pensions reconciliations a progress report on the reasons and actions being taken to address the situation would be provided to the next meeting of the Committee by the Strategic Director of Transformation.

Resolved:

That the Grant Claim and Return Certification Report for 2017/18, be accepted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Deloitte External Auditor’s Audit planning report for 2018/19.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by officers and Mr C. Wisdom (Deloitte – Council’s External Auditors).

Resolved:

That Deloitte’s Audit planning report for 2018/19, be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) setting out progress made by the Counter Fraud & Investigation Directorate (CFID) in delivering the Counter Fraud Strategy and Work Programme for 2018/19.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by officers.  The Committee also asked officers from CFID to provide an update/progress report to the next meeting concerning cybercrime.

Resolved:

That the performance of the Counter Fraud & Investigation Directorate over the last year, be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) setting out the progress made in delivering the Internal Audit Strategy for 2018/19.

Resolved:

That the progress made in delivering the 2018/19 Internal Audit Strategy, be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Internal Audit Charter with the supporting Strategy and Audit Plan for 2019/20.

Resolved:

That the Charter, Strategy and Audit Plan for 2019/20, be approved.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee received a verbal briefing from the Head of Internal Audit presenting the Audit Committee self-assessment of good practice questionnaire, which is the tool used to assess performance against the good practice principles set out in CIPFA’s 2018 Position Statement: Audit Committees in Local Authorities and Police.

The Committee noted that the questionnaire would be sent to the Committee for their comments/input and would also be completed by the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources), the Head of Internal Audit and current and previous audit partners.  The officers would provide feedback on the results and next steps to the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved:

That the Audit Committee Self-Assessment of Good Practice questionnaire be noted.

CIPFA Better Governance Forum

·         Audit Committee Update, Helping Audit to be Effective, Issue 27

·         Local Government Application Note for the UK PSIAS (2019 Edition)

Audit Committee Self-Assessment Checklist

The Audit Committee received and noted the following information items:

·         Audit Committee Update, Helping Audit to be Effective, Issue 27;

·         Local Government Application Note for the UK PSIAS (2019 Edition).

The Committee thanked the Chair for the able way in which she had conducted meetings during the Municipal Year.