28 November 2013

Present:

Councillors Edgell (Chairman), Biederman, Clarance and Hannan.

Apologies:

Councillors Channon and Hannon.

*16 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2013 be signed as a correct record.

*17 Annual Audit Letter 2012/13

The Committee received the Annual Audit Letter of Grant Thornton which had issued an unqualified opinion on the Council s accounts, a qualified except for conclusion in respect of Council s arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources after taking account of OFSTED s inspection report, and an unqualified assurance statement on the Council s Whole of Government Accounts submission.

Members noted that during the audit, the accounting treatment of the Council s schools PFI contract had been considered and that this was not a material issue for the 2012/13 financial statements.

The Chairman paid tribute to the contribution made by Alun Williams of Grant Thornton to the Audit Committee, who had announced his retirement in the New Year.

*18 Annual Report of the Risk Management Group

The Committee received the report of the Head of Services for Communities (SC/13/32 - text only | pdf | supplementary information SC/13/32) outlining the action taken in response to the Internal Audit report on risk management arrangements, including a full reassessment of risk in all service areas, noting that the current risk register was near completion, subject to further contribution from Public Health.

The Head of Service responded to members questions and confirmed that there was an expectation that risk management arrangements would improve beyond Working , and that the rising cost of the Council s energy bill would be investigated and monitored by staff in the Environment service area.

The Head of Devon Audit Partnership advised that a follow up to the internal audit of risk management arrangements would be undertaken and, at the request of the Chairman, he would endeavour to complete this before the next meeting of the Committee of 27 March 2014.

The Committee also raised the issue of the cost of the Council repairing potholes and deteriorating highways, compared with the cost of the Council handling and paying out for public liability claims.

It was MOVED by Councillor Clarance, SECONDED by Councillor Biederman and

RESOLVED

(i) that the effective development and operation of risk management in the Council, the progress on addressing Internal Audit recommendations, and the updates to risk registers, be noted;

(ii) that the full risk management reports relating to the Failure to maintain C class and unclassified roads effectively and Flood risk management be circulated direct to Members of the Committee.

*19 Six Month Internal Audit Report

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Devon Audit Partnership (CT/13/62 - text only | pdf | supplementary information CT/13/62) providing a six month audit opinion of the Council's Internal Audit Service and progress to date against the internal audit plans for 2013/14, highlighting key areas of work and summarising main findings and recommendations. The opinion was that adequate arrangements were in place to control the operations of the Council, and that overall, good progress had been made against the management plan.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hannan, SECONDED by Councillor Biederman and

RESOLVED

(i) that the internal audit opinion and performance and achievements of the Devon Audit Partnership during the first six months of 2013/14 be noted;

(ii) that the Council s continuing commitment to the maintenance and enhancement of an anti-fraud culture be endorsed;

(iii) that the future learning that can be taken forward from cases identified under Irregularities be reported to the Committee upon their resolution, with appropriate consideration of Confidentiality and Data Protection laws where this refers to individuals.

*20 Future Meetings

Thursday 27 March 2014

Friday 27 June 2014

Thursday 25 September 2014

Monday 1 December 2014

Friday 27 March 2015.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.15 pm and finished at 3.35 pm.

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