Functions and Delegations
Audit
Activity
(a)
To consider the Internal 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.
(b)
To agree the external Audit Plan for the
year.
(c)
To approve the cost of the Audit.
(d)
To consider summaries of specific internal audit
reports as requested.
(e)
To consider reports dealing with the management and
performance of the providers of internal audit services.
(f)
To consider a report from internal audit on agreed
recommendations not implemented within a reasonable
timescale.
(g)
To consider the external auditor’s annual
letter, relevant reports and the report to those charged with
governance.
(h)
To consider specific reports as agreed with the
external audit work and to ensure it gives value for
money.
(i)
To comment on the scope and depth of external audit
work and to ensure it gives value for money.
(j)
To liaise with the Audit Commission over the
appointment of the Council’s external auditor.
(k)
To commission work from internal and external
audit.
(l)
To oversee the whistle-blowing policy and make
appropriate recommendations for change to the policy;
(m)To
liaise with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman to
coordinate cross-cutting issues and avoid duplication.
Regulatory Framework
(n)
To maintain an overview of the Council’s
constitution and the Code of Conduct.
(o)
To review any issue referred to it by the Chief
Executive, Directors, S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer or any
council body.
(p)
To monitor the effective development and operation
of risk management and corporate governance in the council, and to
ensure that these matters are effectively embedded.
(q)
To oversee the production of the authority’s
Statement on Internal Control and to recommend its
adoption.
(r)
To consider the Council’s arrangements for
corporate governance and agreeing necessary actions to ensure
compliance with best practice.
(s)
To consider the Council’s compliance with its
own and other published performance standard.
Accounts
(t)
To review the annual statement of accounts.
Specifically, 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.
(u)
To consider the external auditor’s report to
those charged with governance on issues arising from the audits of
the accounts.
Governance Arrangements
To
discharge the functions (other than those which are reserved to
Council) as set out in Part 1, Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011
including:
·
To promote and maintain high standards of conduct by
Members and Co-opted Members of the Council and to make
recommendations to Council on improving standards.
·
To advise and assist Parish/Town Councils and
Parish/Town Councillors to maintain high standards of conduct and
to make recommendations to Parish/Town Councils on improving
standards.
·
To advise the Council on the adoption of or
revisions to its Code of Conduct.
·
To advise, train or arrange to train Members,
Co-opted Members and Parish/Town Councillors on matters relating to
the Code of Conduct.
·
To assist the Councillors, Co-opted Members and
Parish/Town Councillors to observe their respective Codes of
Conduct.
·
To monitor and assess the operation and
effectiveness of the Code of Conduct and to review and manage the
arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct
Complaints.
·
To advise on local ethical governance protocols and
procedures.
·
To maintain oversight of the Council’s
arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct
complaints.
·
To act as an advisory body in respect of any ethical
governance matter.
·
To monitor and review the procedures for the
Register of Members’ Interests and declaring gifts and
hospitality.
·
To receive quarterly reports (or less frequently if
there are no complaints to report) from the Monitoring Officer on
the number and nature of complaints received and action taken as a
result in consultation with the Independent Person.
·
To receive an annual report on the Council’s
ethical governance arrangements.
·
To appointment a sub-committee to deal with Code of
Conduct complaints, following investigation.
·
To grant dispensations pursuant to S33(2) of the
Localism Act 2011 and paragraph 8 of the adopted Code of Conduct
where:
(i)
without the dispensation, the representation of
different political groups on the body transacting the business
would be so upset as to alter the outcome of any vote on the
matter.
(ii)
that the authority considers that the dispensation
is in the interests of persons living in its area; or
where
the Committee considers that it is otherwise appropriate to grant a
dispensation.
Audit
and Governance Annual Reports
2012/13
