The Audit Committee comprises of 7 Members and
its role is:
·
To consider the Audit Manager’s annual report
and opinion, and a summary of internal audit activity (actual and
proposed) and the level of assurance it can give over the
Council’s corporate governance arrangements.
·
To consider summaries of specific Internal Audit
reports as requested.
·
To consider reports dealing with the management and
performance of the providers of internal audit services.
·
To consider a report from Internal Audit on agreed
recommendations not implemented within a reasonable
timescale.
·
To review and approve the Terms of Reference of
Internal Audit.
·
To consider the external Auditor’s annual
letter, relevant reports, and the report to those charged with
governance.
·
To consider specific reports as agreed with the
external Auditor.
·
To comment on the scope and depth of external audit
work and to ensure it gives value for money.
·
To liaise with the Audit Commission over the
appointment of the Council’s external Auditor.
·
To commission work from internal and external
audit.
Regulatory Framework
·
To maintain an overview of the Council’s
Constitution in respect of contract procedure rules, financial
regulations and codes of conduct and behaviour.
·
To review any issue referred to it by the Chief
Executive or a Director, or any Council body.
·
To monitor the effective development and operation
of risk management and corporate governance in the
Council.
·
To monitor Council policies on ‘Raising
Concerns at Work’ and the anti-fraud and anti-corruption
strategy and the Council’s complaints process.
·
To review and monitor the Authority’s
Statement on Internal Control.
·
To consider the Council’s arrangements for
corporate governance and agree necessary actions to ensure
compliance with best practice.
·
To consider the Council’s compliance with its
own and other published standards and controls.
Accounts and Governance
·
To approve the Annual Statement of Accounts, including the Annual
Governance Statement
·
To consider whether appropriate accounting policies have been
followed and whether there are concerns arising from the financial
statements or from the audit that need to be brought to the
attention of the Council
·
To consider the external auditor’s report to those charged
with governance on issues arising from the annual audit of
accounts