Agenda and minutes

Audit Board (this committee has been combined with the Audit, Standards & Governance Committee and no longer meets) - Tuesday 21st November 2006 6.00 p.m.

Venue: The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove. View directions

Contact: Andy C. Stephens

Items
No.	Item
21.	Appointment of Chairman View the background to item 21. View the decision for item 21. Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs. S. J. Baxter be appointed Chairman of the Board for the remainder of the municipal year.
22.	To receive apologies for absence View the background to item 22. View the decision for item 22. Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Mr. N. Shovell, Audit Services Manager. (NOTE: The Acting Chief Executive explained that Mr. Shovell, had been unable to attend the Meeting having suddenly been taken ill earlier in the day. The Board wished Neil their best wishes for a speedy recovery.)
23.	Declarations of Interest and Whipping Arrangements View the background to item 23. Minutes: No interests or whipping arrangements were declared.
24.	To confirm the Minutes of the last Meeting held on 18th September 2006 PDF 26 KB View the background to item 24. View the decision for item 24. Minutes: The Minutes of the Meeting of the Board held on 18th September 2006 were submitted. RESOLVED that the Minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
25.	Internal Audit Performance and Workload PDF 159 KB View the background to item 25. View the decision for item 25. Minutes: Consideration was given to the report relating to the performance and workload of the Internal Audit Section and, in particular, the current status of the 2006/2007 Audit Plan. Reference was also made to the audit work which had already been completed, and the ongoing progress being made in respect of the National Fraud Initiative. Councillor Lanham asked if it was known to what extent the £111 million worth of fraud and overpayments identified by the National Fraud Initiative's most recent exercise, referred to at paragraph 5.2 of the report, related to the Bromsgrove District. The Acting Chief Executive stated that the statistics quoted were a national figure but added that he would investigate the proportion of this figure which related directly to the District. In respect of paragraph 7.2, Councillor Lanham asked how many Audit Quality Questionnaire responses had been received, and what the overall result was. The Acting Chief Executive explained that he would investigate this and report back his findings to Members of the Board. RESOLVED that the report be noted.
26.	Audit Board Self-Assessment PDF 155 KB View the background to item 26. View the decision for item 26. Minutes: The Board gave consideration to the report relating to the Audit Board Self-Assessment which had been completed by CIPFA to measure the effectiveness of the Board and how it meets compliance with CIPFA guidance. RESOLVED: (i) that the Acting Chief Executive be requested to investigate what constitutes 'key committees' of the Council, in terms of the CIPFA guidance, and report back to the next meeting of the Board; (ii) that further efforts be made to ensure full compliance with the CIPFA guidance and, in particular, the areas detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the report; and (iii) that, in all other respects, the report be noted.
27.	Date of next Meeting (re-schedule from 19th March 2007 to w/c 19th February 2007) View the background to item 27. View the decision for item 27. Minutes: RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Board be arranged for 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 23rd January 2007, in the Conference Room, at The Council House.