Meeting: Audit Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 06/03/2009 09:00:00 AM)
Item: A6 Effectiveness of the Audit Committee
| Report of the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management |
1. The Council has a requirement under the Accounts and Audit (Amended) (England) Regulations 2006 to review the effectiveness of its system of internal audit each year. In 2007/08, this work focussed primarily upon a review of the Internal Audit Service, however, in accordance with recent best practice guidance provided by CIPFA’s Audit Panel, this now needs to be expanded to include the effectiveness of the Audit Committee itself.
Supporting Information
2. The Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee were formally approved at the meeting of the County Council on 02 May 2007. The Terms of Reference were considered as part of a training event by Members and Officers and are currently in the process of being revised.
3. Best practice guidance set out by CIPFA in its toolkit for Local Authority Audit Committees, recommends that Committees periodically review their own effectiveness, including the Terms of Reference in discharging their responsibilities.
4. In order to inform this review, and identify any areas for improvement it is proposed that the Audit Committee completes the desktop assessment attached as Appendix 2.
TO VIEW APPENDIX 2 PLEASE REFER TO PDF ATTACHMENT OR ALTERNATIVELY REFER TO HARD COPIES HELD IN CORPORATE SERVICES
Recommendation
5. Members are asked to confirm their agreement to the proposed content of the desktop assessment. Thereafter a further meeting will be convened to facilitate completion of the assessment.
Background Papers - Audit Files & Working Papers
| Contact: Stephen Carter, Audit Manager Tel: 0191 3833159 |
| Appendix 1: Implications |
No
Finance
There are no direct financial implications arising for the Council as a result of this report, although we aim through our audit planning arrangements to review core systems in operation and ensure through our broad programme of work that the Council has made safe and efficient arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs.
Staffing
None
Equality and Diversity
None
Accommodation
None
Crime and disorder
None
Sustainability
None
Human rights
None
Localities and Rurality
None
Young people
None
Consultation
None
Health
None
Attachments