Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Wednesday, 11th December, 2002 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 11th December, 2002
Time:
07.00pm
Place:
Committee Room 2, Bury Town Hall
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor F Chaudhry (in the Chair);
Councillors T P Chamberlain, G Sharkey, B Vincent and J F Walton.
Co-opted:
No members of the public were present
Apologies for absence:
Councillors E B Briggs, Y Creswell and W Ramsey.
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
SP.857 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item SP.857
 
SP.858 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item SP.858
 
SP.859 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
 Delegated decision:

1. That the Minutes of the meeting of this Sub-Committee held on 25 September 2002 be approved as a correct record, subject to the report number in Minute SP.490 being amended to read 1556/01 instead of 1657/02.

2. That in respect of Minute SP487(1) the Director of Finance and E-Government be requested for his comments as to why the consultations with Councillor Walton on the Statement of Accounts for 2001/02 did not take place.
SP.860 PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE REVIEW
Preamble for item SP.860
It was agreed:

1. That the report be noted.

2. That the Assistant Chief Executive be requested to report to the next meeting of the Sub Committee on the partnership arrangements relating to the provision of data by outside agencies.
SP.861 AUDIT PROGRESS 2001/2002
Preamble for item SP.861
Delegated decision:

That the report be noted.
SP.862 DISTRICT AUDIT DRAFT AUDIT PLAN 2002/2003
Preamble for item SP.862
Delegated decision:

That the report be noted
SP.863 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
To consider passing the appropriate resolution under Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business since they involve the likely disclosure of the exempt information stated.
 Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration the following items of business since they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information in respect of action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention and investigation or prosecution of a crime.
Exempt
SP.864 INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT 1556/01-REPORT ON ACTION PLAN
The report is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 14 of Part1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.
  • (Attachment: 6)Briefing Note by Director of Education and Culture
  
SP.865 INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT
The report is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972
  • (Attachment: 7)Reprt by Chief Internal Auditor
  • |
    (Attachment: 8)Appendix A
  • |
    (Attachment: 9)Appendix B
  • |
    (Attachment: 10)Appendix C
  • |
    (Attachment: 11)Appendix D
  
SP.866 INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS-MEMBERS' FEEDBACK
The report is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972
  • (Attachment: 12)Report by Chief Internal Auditor
  
The meeting started at 7.00 pm and finished at 8.35 pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
SP.857No members of the public were present to ask questions under this item.
SP.858No declarations of interest were made.
SP.860Consideration was given to a report by the Assistant Chief Executive on a review of Partnership Governance arrangements, which was included within District Audit's Audit Plan for this year. This area is recognised as a key aspect of the change agenda in the public sector, and this Council is carrying out a Best Value Review of Corporate Governance arrangements during 2002/03, in the context of the Council's Corporate Governance framework, which addresses the areas of openness, integrity and accountability.

Concern was expressed about ensuring that the Council's Partners, such as the Health Trusts, provided the necessary data on time to ensure that the Authority is able to provide information required by the Audit Commission.
SP.861The District Auditor submitted a progress report on the District Audit Plan for 2001/2002.
SP.862The District Auditor, as the Council's appointed Auditor, submitted a report giving details of the Audit Plan for 2002/2003. It was reported that the audit year is being changed so that it runs from April to March with effect from April 2003, so as to correspond with the Council tax year.

The main aim of the Audit is to design a programme of work to address the significant operational and financial risks which the Council faces.

In addition, the Audit needs to review whether the Council has adequate arrangements for the following:-

- Ensuring the legality of transactions with a significant financial consequence.

- Ensuring the Council's financial standing is soundly based.

- Being satisfied that the Council has systems of internal financial control which are both adequate and effective.

- Ensuring proper standards of financial conduct and to prevent and detect fraud and corruption.

- Securing economy efficiency and effectiveness in the use of the Council's resources.