28 September 2009

Present:

Sir Simon Day (Chairman), Councillors Greenslade, Hannon, McMurray, Moulding, Parsons and Pennington

In Attendance

Councillor Bowden

*6 Minutes

RESOLVED

(a) that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2009 be signed as a correct record;

(b) that the 7 September 2009 response from Mr Evans of the Audit Commission regarding the increase in Audit Fees be noted;

(c) that the Director of Finance convey to the Audit Commission the Committee s continued disquiet about the increased Audit Fees and makes a formal objection to the Commission on behalf of the Committee and enquires whether the Managing Director, Audit, Mr Martin Evans, or a senior representative, would be kind enough to attend the Committee s next meeting in December to explain in more detail the Commission s reasons for the increase.

*7 Annual Governance Report

(a) The Committee considered the report of the District Auditor presented by Mr Alun Williams, District Auditor, and Ms C Brown, Audit Manager, Audit Commission, on progress on the financial statements audit, planned opinion on the accounts and summary use of resources assessment. The report set out the key issues that Members should consider following consideration and agreement by the Director of Finance.

RESOLVED that the Annual Governance report be received and approved.

(b) The Statement of Accounts

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance (CR/09/50 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CR/09/50).

RESOLVED

(i) that the non-material changes made to the Accounts approved on 30 June 2009 be noted;

(ii) that the Letter of Representation be approved.

*8 Audit Progress Update Report

The Committee considered the report of the District Auditor presented by Ms C Brown, Audit Manager, Audit Commission, which covered County Council reports issued since last meeting, work completed, work in progress and Audit Commission events and national reports.

RESOLVED

(a) that the update report be noted;

(b) that a report be presented to the next meeting of this Committee on the balances held by schools.

*9 Reviewing the Effectiveness of the System of Internal Audit

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance (CR/09/48) presented by Mr Martin Gould, Head Devon Audit Partnership, measuring the performance of the providers of internal audit in five key areas.

RESOLVED

(a) that the effectiveness of the system of internal audit and satisfactory performance of Devon Audit Services described in the report be noted;

(b) that the Commitment within the former Devon Audit Services and the new Devon Audit Partnership to a culture of continuous improvement be noted and endorsed.

*10 Update Report on the Review of the introduction of PRiSM

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance (CR/09/49). Members hoped that officers would be increasing the functionality of PRiSM and that this would be more evident in the final report to this Committee.

RESOLVED that the progress made in respect of the audit review of PRiSM requested by the Committee at its meeting in June 2009, be noted.

*11 Risk Management Update For 6 Months to End September 2009

The Committee considered the report of the Chair of the Corporate Risk Management Group, Mr Richard Horne, in response to one of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee to monitor the effective development and operation of risk management and corporate governance in the Council .

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

*12 Date of Next Meeting

The Committee noted that its next meeting was in the calendar to be held on Monday 7 December 2009 at 2.15pm at County Hall, Exeter.

RESOLVED that the next meeting be moved to Monday 14 December 2009 at 2.15pm at County Hall, Exeter.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15pm and finished at 3.25pm.

The Minutes of the Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-