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 23 January 2007

            Resolved -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd January 2007  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.

                    10                      3                 53

                    11                      7                 54

Jon Roberts and Julie Masci of the Council’s External Auditors, RSM Robson Rhodes, attended the meeting to introduce the Council’s 2006/7 Performance Report and respond to members’ questions regarding specific aspects of the report and its findings and recommendations.

In presenting the Performance Report, the External Auditors expanded on the following major elements of the review:

·                    the key messages of the audit; these being, primarily, messages of compliance with statutory requirements and significant performance improvement

·                    the timetable of audit work

·                    the scope and detail of audit work undertaken in respect of the Best Value Performance Plan

·                    the Key Lines Of Enquiry used to inform the use of resources and data quality assessments

·                    the main recommendations in the proposed Action Plan to consolidate and strengthen the improved performance position and promote further service improvements.

The External Auditors concluded their presentation by acknowledging the co-operation and assistance provided by the Internal Audit Team and other Council staff during the course of the audit.

Resolved – (1) That the External Auditors’ Annual Performance Report 2006/7 be accepted and that the Group Director, Resources, be authorised to co-ordinate the preparation of the Council’s detailed response to the report.

(2) That the officers report to future meetings of the Audit Committee on the Council’s progress in implementing the recommendations set out in the Annual Performance Report Action Plan.

(3) That, in commending the Annual Performance Report 2006/7 to Cabinet for acceptance, this Committee would particularly like to highlight the External Auditors’ comments at paragraph 1.7, “congratulating the Council on its significant achievements to date, reflected in the overall increase in its score for delivering economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources from a level 2 to a level 3 in 2006”. 

(4) That the External Auditors be thanked for attending the meeting to present this very positive review of the Council’s performance and its use of resources and that the Internal Audit Team be also thanked for their hard work in support of the council-wide performance improvements reflected in the Annual Report. 

(5) That the comments of the Group Director, Resources, regarding current staffing resources within the Internal Audit Team and measures proposed to be taken to ensure the long term resilience of the team, be noted.

The Director, Partnership, Performance and Policy submitted a quarterly summary report on Risk Management within the Council. The Council’s Corporate Risk Manager presented the report, highlighting key issues in relation to the development of the Council’s Risk Management Strategy and the Corporate Risk Register, progress in updating Group Directorate and Service Area Risk Registers, risk management training, business continuity management, disaster recovery and security management in relation to the Council’s ICT infrastructure.

Resolved – That the quarterly summary report on Risk Management within the Council be noted.

The Group Director, Resources, submitted a report on the CIPFA Better Governance Forum’s “toolkit” for local authority audit committees, providing guidance on recognised good practice for officers and members involved in the operation of audit committees. Members were invited to utilise the self-assessment checklist within the toolkit to assess the Audit Committee’s operation and performance against CIPFA’s recognised best practice.

Resolved – (1) That, in order to facilitate an assessment of the Audit Committee’s performance against recognised best practice, members be invited to complete the self-assessment checklist within the CIPFA toolkit for local authority audit committees.

(2) That a training event for members be arranged jointly with the External Auditors, to take place early in the next Municipal Year, on the role of local authority audit committees and compliance with recognised best practice.

The Group Director, Resources, submitted a report on the Council’s updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy and its Whistleblowing Policy, seeking the Committee’s endorsement of the policies prior to their consideration for approval by the Standards Committee.

Resolved – That, subject to the minor textual amendments suggested by the Committee, the Council’s updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy and its Whistleblowing Policy be endorsed for approval by the Standards Committee.

Further to Minute 42(3), the Group Director, Resources, submitted a report providing the Committee with the details of the Internal Audit memorandum on Wichelstowe Affordable Housing.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Group Director, Resources, summarising the main issues arising from Internal Audit reports finalised in January 2007, including a commentary on progress made regarding the DfES requirements for the external assessment of schools, and advising on progress against the Internal Audit Plan.

Resolved – That the summary of Internal Audit reports finalised in January 2007, and progress against achievement of the Internal Audit Plan, be noted.