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Meeting documents

Audit

Committee Minutes

Fri Sep 21 2012

Related Documents:
agenda for these minutes

21 September 2012

Present:

Councillors Moulding (Vice-Chairman), Greenslade, Hannon and Parsons

Apologies:

Councillors Sir Simon Day, McMurray and Pennington

*108 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2012 be signed as a correct record.

*109 Annual Governance Report

The Committee considered the report of the District Auditor summarising the key findings from the 2011/12 audit, covering his audit of the County Council s financial statements and assessment of its Value for Money arrangements.

The District Auditor s findings were that the organisation had robust systems and processes to manage effectively financial risks and opportunities, and to secure a stable financial position that enabled it to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. He indicated that he intended to issue an unqualified opinion on the County Council s Statement of Accounts for 2011/12.

The Committee thanked the District Auditor and the County Council s staff for all their hard work during the 2011/12 audit process.

It was MOVED by Councillor Moulding, SECONDED by Councillor Parsons and

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

*110 Statement of Accounts 2011/12

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (CT/12/45 - text only | pdf CT/12/45), together with the Statement of Accounts booklet.

The report drew attention to changes relating to accounting policies and comparative information and sought approval of the Letter of Management Representation and the Statement of Accounts.

It was MOVED by Councillor Moulding, SECONDED by Councillor Parsons and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Letter of Management Representation for 2011/12 be approved;

(b) subject to the substitution of the revised statement regarding key management personnel in Paragraph 13 on Page 115 circulated at the meeting, that the Statement of Accounts for 2011/12 be approved.

*111 Audit Progress Report (Minute *104/22 June 2012)

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (CT/12/43 - text onlyCT/12/43) on the implementation of improvements required in the Annual Internal Audit Report 2011/12 submitted to the last meeting.

The report drew attention to follow up audit reviews on the areas identified for improvement, the progress made against recommendations, the current (updated) assurance opinion and a direction of travel .

It was MOVED by Councillor Moulding, SECONDED by Councillor McMurray and

RESOLVED

(a) that the good progress being made by management to address weaknesses identified through the internal audit process be noted;

(b) that further updates be given to the next meeting of the Audit Committee on progress on the following areas:

Contracts and Tendering for Children s Centres

Safeguarding - Provider Care Management Report - although it was noted that this would require co-operation from the care provider;

(c) that it be suggested that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee review how an electronic solution could help mitigate the risks associated with manually produced pay advice slips.

*112 Future of Public Audit

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (CT/12/44 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/12/44) on the Local Audit Bill, 2012 which was designed to implement the Government s plans to disband the Audit Commission and re-focus audit on helping the public to hold councils and local public bodies to account for their spending decisions.

These proposals included giving councils the freedom to appoint their own auditors from the open market. The Government anticipated total savings in public expenditure of 650m over the next five years.

The report incorporated a response to the consultation on the Bill made by the County Treasurer in consultation with the Chairman of the Audit Committee before the deadline of 31 August 2012.

It was MOVED by Councillor Moulding, SECONDED by Councillor Greenslade and

RESOLVED

(a) that the proposed draft Local Audit Bill, 2012 be noted and the response of the County Council be endorsed;

(b) that local Members of Parliament be made aware of, and asked to support, the County Council s views on the Bill.

*113 Date of Next Meeting

The Committee noted that its next meeting would be held on Tuesday 4 December 2012 at 2.15pm.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15pm and finished at 3.10pm.

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

Date Published: Mon Oct 08 2012

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