Issue - meetings

That Mr. Paul Williams be appointed the lay Member of the Audit Committee.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report to inform the County Council of the process used to recruit a lay member to the Audit Committee and to recommend a candidate for appointment. 

            On 10 May, 2012 adverts for a lay member for the Audit Committee had been placed in the Chester Chronicle and Daily Post.  In total 22 applications had been received and candidates had been short-listed by the Head of Finance and Head of Legal and Democratic Services using the criteria set out in paragraph 3.01 of the report.  Given the sometimes sensitive nature of reports considered by the Audit Committee it had been essential that any lay person was able to exercise both discretion and diplomacy.

            Councillor I.B. Roberts, as the previous Chair of the Audit Committee had Chaired the Panel appointing the lay members to the Audit Committee.  He said that there had been a number of interesting candidates and spoke in support of the appointed candidate, Mr Paul Williams who he said would bring a wealth of experience on a number of areas, including risk management and fraud to the Audit Committee.  He also said that Mr. Williams would bring additional experience of work within the private sector.

            Councillor R.J.T. Guest raised concern that Members had not been given the name of the preferred candidate before the Council meeting.  The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that this information should have been provided to all Members before the Council meeting.  He also said that Mr. Williams had attended the training for Audit Committee Members on 15 June, 2012 to give the Audit Committee Members the opportunity to gain an appreciation of his qualities.     

RESOLVED:

That Mr. Paul Williams be appointed the lay Member of the Audit Committee.