Issue - meetings

That the proposed changes to the Audit Committee Terms of Reference be approved, including a further change to reinstate some wording on information security in relation to computer systems.

The Internal Audit Manager presented the report to seek agreement to changes to the Audit Committee Terms of Reference, Article 7 in the Council’s Constitution, to reflect arrangements currently in place.  The document had been prepared in consultation with Wales Audit Office (WAO) representatives, the Chief Executive, Head of Finance, Head of Legal & Democratic Services and Democracy & Governance Manager.

The Democracy & Governance Manager explained the requirement for the report to be considered by the Constitution Committee including whether or not the changes to the report would also need approval by full Council.

Councillor M. Bateman raised concerns about the proposed removal of wording under ‘Internal Control’ on the accountability for the security and misuse of computer systems.  The Internal Audit Manager explained the suggestion to amend the original wording, which had been inserted some time ago, to remove the emphasis on computerised systems due to the extensive use of computer-based systems now in place.  He added that the proposed changes in the document were suggestions that could be amended further or reinstated depending on Members’ views.  In response to further queries raised by Councillor Bateman, the Head of Legal & Democratic Services gave clarification on teams and systems in place within the Council who were responsible for information security, commenting that the Information Commissioner’s audit of Data Protection practices in Flintshire had highlighted this as an area of good practice.

In response to the concerns raised by Councillor Bateman, the Chair asked that some of the detail on information security of computer systems be reinstated.

Councillor G.S. Banks referred to discussion at a previous meeting on the approval process of tendering exemptions and raised similar concerns about responsibility for approving changes to the Constitution.  The Head of Legal & Democratic Services advised that the Council had agreed that minor amendments to the Constitution could be made following consultation with the Chairman of the Constitution Committee and Group Leaders where none of them objected.

The Democracy & Governance Manager referred to the size of the Constitution which required continual update and that the improved arrangement under delegated powers to officers made it easier to keep the Constitution up-to-date.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed changes to the Audit Committee Terms of Reference be approved, including a further change to reinstate some wording on information security in relation to computer systems.