Agenda and minutes

Members are requested at the start of the meeting to declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and are reminded that any such interest should also be declared at the start of an item or during any discussion of the matter concerned.

            The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting. No declarations were made.  

See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance).

            No questions were asked under Standing Order 28. 

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th July 2006

            Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th July, 2006, be confirmed and signed.

Certain items are expected to include the consideration of exempt information and the Sub-Committee is, therefore, recommended to resolve "That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

            That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

          Item No.     Paragraph No.      Minute No.

                6 - 8                      7          27 - 28

The Council’s External Auditors, RSM Robson Rhodes LLP, attended the meeting to present to the Committee their audit report in relation to the annual audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts, Use of Resources update and Best Value Performance Plan for 2005/06. Mr Barrie Morris of RSM Robson Rhodes took the Committee through the elements of the Audit Report highlighting the key issues arising from the audit and the Council’s response to their recommendations.

Resolved – (1) That the External Audit report on the Council’s Statement of Accounts, Use of Resources update and Best Value Performance Plan for 2005/06, the conclusions of that report and improvements made by the Council to its accounting statements and auditing processes be noted.

(2) That the Chair of the Audit Committee be authorised to sign the amended Statement of Accounts 2005/06 on behalf of the Committee.

(3) That the Council’s Group Finance Manager, Corporate, be authorised to consider the minor textual amendments which the External Auditors have suggested be made to the letter of representation, appended to the report.

(4) That, subject to any amendments arising from (3) above, the letter of representation, attached at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved for sending to RSM Robson Rhodes LLP.

(5) That, with particular reference to the challenges presented by the bringing forward of the deadline for making the audited accounts publicly available, the Finance Team be congratulated on their significant efforts in compiling and approving the accounts before the 30^th June deadline.

Further to Minute 20(2), the Head of Internal Audit attended the meeting to present the details of the Internal Audit report on the status of Corporate Information Security controls. The Director of Business Transformation was also in attendance to report on progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Audit Rreport.

Resolved – That the details of the Internal Audit report on the status of Corporate Information Security controls, and the Management response to the Audit recommendations, be noted

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Group Director, Resources, summarising the main issues arising from Internal Audit reports finalised in late July and August 2006 and advising on progress against the Internal Audit Plan. The report also provided a commentary on the current situation regarding staff resources in Internal Audit and the additional pressure on those resources as a result of the Department for Education and Skills’ requirements for the External Assessment of schools.

            Resolved – (1) That the summary of Internal Audit reports finalised in late May and June 2006, and progress against achievement of the Internal Audit Plan, be noted.

            (2) That members’ comments regarding a possible additional audit review be noted and that the officers consider whether this might be accommodated within the current year’s Internal Audit Plan.