Agenda item

7.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Finance and Commercial Services. The report provided Members of the Committee with a summary of the newly published position statement from CIPFA on the role of the Audit Committees in Local Government, and recommended suitable committee-specific training for members of the Committee.

7.2

The Director of Finance and Commercial Services believed the Council was compliant with the statement provided by CIPFA.

7.3

The report proposed training for the Audit & Standards Committee to take within the remainder of 2022. 

7.4

Members of the Committee asked questions and the following responses were provided: -

7.5

The Director of Finance and Commercial Services explained that the webinar training on the 14 September 2022 was facilitated by CIPFA therefore a recording would be available to view after.

7.6

The Director of Legal and Governance explained that Strategy and Resources Policy Committee was not an executive committee therefore the Audit & standards Committee would be independent, as mentioned in the report.

7.7

The report stated that the Audit Committee should, at least annually, review and report on its own performance, including how it had complied with the principles of the position statement and how effectively it had engaged with the leadership team and those charged with governance. The Director of Finance and Commercial Services mentioned this would be good practice for the Committee to undertake.

7.8

The Director of Legal and Governance explained that the Governance Committee were content that the membership of the Audit & Standards Committee did not need changing. Therefore, it remained with 7 Members. A Member of the Committee added that 7 Members was good for this Committee and also suggested that more independent members be appointed.

7.9

The Director of Finance and Commercial Services agreed to feedback training dates to CIPFA, as it was mentioned that Introduction training takes place in September, several months after the first meeting of the Committee.

7.10

The Chair explained that the Committee undertook a closed meeting with the external auditors, Ernst & Young in July 2022. In that meeting the Committee agreed to carry out another closed session with the external auditors in the Autumn.

7.11

RESOLVED: That the Audit & Standards Committee noted and adopted the position statement and agreed a forward training programme to support Members of the Committee with their role.