Meeting documents
A meeting of the Audit Committee will be held on the above date at 2.15 pm at County Hall, Exeter to
consider the following matters.
PHIL NORREY
Chief Executive
A G E N D A
PART I OPEN COMMITTEE
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2009 (Previously circulated).
3. Items Requiring Urgent Attention
Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as a
matter of urgency.
4. Annual Statement of Accounts 2009/2010
Report of the Director of Finance (CR/10/59 - text only | supplementary information 
CR/10/59) (Page ) and Statement of Accounts booklet numbered and enclosed separately. (Pension Fund Accounts will be sent TO FOLLOW)
5. Annual Internal Audit Annual Report 2009-10
Report of the Director of Finance (CR/10/60) (Page 7).
6. Pension Fund Fee Letters
Report of the District Auditor (Page 21).
7. Audit Progress Report
Report of the District Auditor (Page 24).
8. Risk Management Report
Report of the District Auditor (Page 26).
9. Possible Future Items for Audit Committee
(a) The Audit Committee may wish to request a paper on policy relating to overhanging trees at a future meeting to ensure that all Directorates take a consistent and robust approach.
(b) The Audit Committee may also wish to have a discussion on partnership risk at a future meetings.
10. Good Governance in Local Government
Report of the Corporate Leadership Team (CX/10/24 - text onlyCX/10/24) (Page 39).
11. Ethical Governance
Report of the County Solicitor (CX/10/16 - text onlyCX/10/16) (Page 84).
The Standards Committee at its meeting on 10 May 2010 (Minute 25) received the results of an ethical governance survey undertaken by Members in the latter part of 2009 to help that Committee assess, inter alia, how the Council met the ethical agenda and whether or not any improvements might be needed. The Standards Committee was pleased to note that, in general, the responses received from members had been by and large positive and no significant actions were needed. A number of specific issues had been raised through that survey which would be addressed by the Standards Committee in its own work programme or through on-going member development and training. However, the Standards Committee also accepted the suggestion from a member that the Council should 'examine the process for checking expenses claims from Members and Officers alike'. No suggestion of impropriety was made rather it was a general comment that the Council should be satisfied that its processed were satisfactory.
The Committee may wish to look at this with a view to reassuring itself that that the current process for checking claims was robust and effective.
12. PRISM Update
On 30th March the Audit Committee received the report of the Director of Finance on the review whose key objectives were to provide assurance that the PRiSM payroll system has been introduced effectively, that the potential for wider use and benefit for the County Council has been identified, and that plans are in place to harness these benefits.
At the meeting, Roger Jarman, HR Payroll Business Development Manager, attended and spoke about the technical details of the system and its potential ability to deal with other human resource areas beside payroll such as sickness and absenteeism. Members discussed this potential which was felt to be an audit question relating to value for money, and resolved that a further report be presented to this meeting of the Committee on the development of PRiSM system to encompass other HR areas.
Over the ensuing period a package of work has been initiated by the Corporate Programmes Office and Improvement Efficiency Team to review the potential benefits and use of the Self-Service option within PRiSM with the key people who have the knowledge of processes involved, technology and financial implications
.
This has involved discussions and visits to other local authorities who have recently implemented the solution to get a practical view on their own implementation and the associated efficiencies delivered. The aim of this exploratory work is to produce an internal business case outlining the way forward. This project is on-going with its outputs expected during July.
13. Date of Next Meeting
Friday 24 September 2010 at 2.15pm
PART II ITEMS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF PRESS AND PUBLIC ON THE GROUNDS THAT EXEMPT INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED
Nil.
| Members are reminded that Part II Reports contain confidential information and should therefore be treated accordingly. They should not be disclosed or passed on to any other person(s).
Members are also reminded of the need to dispose of such reports carefully and are therefore invited to return them to the Committee Secretary at the conclusion of the meeting for disposal |
MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN THE ATTENDANCE REGISTER
Membership | |
| Sir Simon Day (Chairman), Councillors Greenslade, Hannon, McMurray, Moulding (Vice-Chairman) Parsons and Pennington | |
| Declaration of Interests | |
| Members are reminded that they must declare any interest they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item. | |
| Access to Information | |
| Any person wishing to inspect any minutes, reports or lists of background papers relating to any item on this agenda should contact Brian Wilkinson on 01392 382255. | |
| Internet | |
| Agendas and minutes of this Committee together with any officers reports considered at the meeting are published online on the Council s Website at:- | |
| Webcasting of Meetings | |
| The proceedings of this meeting may be recorded for broadcasting on the internet via the County Council s website Information Devon . The whole of the meeting will be broadcast apart from any confidential items which may need to be considered in the absence of the press and public. For more information go to: http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/decision_making/webcasting.htm | |
| Copies of this Agenda and/or Reports may be made available in other formats (e.g. large print, audio tape, Braille or other languages). Please contact the Information Centre on 01392 380101 for more information. | |