Issue - meetings

That the changes to Article 7 set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

The Democracy and Governance Manager introduced the report which detailed the proposed changes to the Audit Committee role contained in Article 7 of the Council Constitution.

            A review of the Committee’s role had taken place and been reported to the Audit Committee on 30 July 2013 and Constitution Committee on 16 October 2013.  The revised wording following consideration by those Committees was attached at Appendix A to the report.

            The main changes were:

·        The role of the Committee was clarified in terms of financial affairs

·        The work of the Committee was specified for risk management, corporate governance, treasury management and collaborations

·        The review of the Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategy, Fraud Response Plan and Whistleblowing Policy was included

·        Reports from other regulatory bodies were included

·        Approval of the Internal Audit Charter, the receipt of the Annual Report and the monitoring of performance indicators was included

·        A strengthening of reporting on the implementation of audit recommendations

·        From the Local Government Measure, the ability of the Committee to require the presence of a Member or officer (previously ‘request’)

·        The frequency of meetings as laid down by the Local Government Measure – at least once a year, but as many as the Committee wanted

·        The training requirements for the Committee

·        The need for the Committee to act apolitically was stated

Councillor Bernie Attridge proposed that the County Council support the recommendation outlined in the report which was seconded by Councillor Alison Halford.

RESOLVED:

That the changes to Article 7 set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.