| Number | Item |
| | Minutes for this Meeting |
| | Agenda Front Page  |
| | Agenda Papers |
| 1. | Apologies/Substitutes |
| 2. | Declarations of Interest |
| 3. | Minutes – To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of this Committee held on the 26th September 2013 |
| 4. | Part I – For Decision |
| | Following questions raised at the last Audit Committee a presentation will be given on the Council’s arrangements for IT continuity and systems backup/restore. |
| | The Council’s IT Continuity Arrangements – Presentation |
| 5. | This is the first full annual audit letter from Grant Thornton UK our external auditors. The letter covers the auditor’s findings and opinions arising from the 2012-2013 audit. Detailed findings are not re-stated as these were reported previously to the committee. The letter restates the unqualified opinion on last year’s accounts andthe audit conclusion on efficiency and effectiveness. It also highlights the auditor’s positive conclusions about the council under the financial resilience test. This test applies to all councils and 2012-2013 was the first year such an examination was carried out. The auditor’s overall opinion on the council’s arrangements for securing value for money was again positive. Other than the matter concerning an incomplete set of members’ third party declarations for the purposes of auditing the final accounts (advised to the committee at its previous meeting) there are no further matters highlighted for attention.Andy Mack and his colleagues will be present at the meeting to introduce the report and take questions. |
| | Annual Audit Letter 2012/13 |
| 6. | The report provides details of the work of the Internal Audit team between April and September 2013. The Audit Committee is asked to agree that the work provides evidence of an adequate and effective internal audit. |
| | Internal Audit Interim Report |
| 7. | The meeting of the Committee on 26 September 2013 received and considered a report on a number of matters affecting the Internal Audit service including:• The creation of an Internal Audit Charter• The external quality assessment of internal audit for conformance with the new Public Sector Internal Audit Standards• The creation of ‘one team’ with Ashford audit staff transferred to Maidstone Borough Council• The extension by a further four years of the collaboration agreement for the audit partnership• The proposed arrangements for the recruitment of a new Head of Audit Partnership The current report provides an update on the action that has been taken or is planned for the coming months. |
| | Internal Audit Partnership – Progress Report |
| 8. | Part II – Monitoring/Information Items |
| | This short paper follows on from the report to the September meeting of the committee and explains progress against the areas for continued work which was included in the Annual Governance Statement agreed by the committee at the June meeting. This highlighted the following matters:a) The Leader’s wish that there be a refocusing of council priorities and further cultural development to consolidate the direction that is currently set out in the business plan and Cabinet’s previous position statementb) The Leader’s proposal for a further review of some aspects of the constitution to reinforce the principle of inclusivity and to clarify delegationsc) Production of an annual reportd) Updating the 2007 Code of Corporate Governancee) Procurement strategy review |
| | Annual Governance Statement – Progress on Remedying Exceptions |
| 9. | The attached update from our external auditor provides an update of ongoing work for the current audit year. Furthermore it provides a commentary on national emerging issues and in relation to these poses some questions for the committee.Andy Mack will be present to introduce the report and take questions.On the emerging issues these cover: the new and strategic focus for councils on business rate yield a national voluntary code and toolkit to evaluate the performance of the HRA potential procurement fraud a continuing focus on the need to streamline councils’ financial statements and progress with the Local Audit and Accountability Bill (this bill ends the role of the Audit Commission and provides councils with the responsibility for procuring external audit services).As the emerging issues and questions posed are far reaching the committee is being recommended to consider these at its various meetings during 2014 particularly those that have a bearing on the management of strategic risks.The update also confirms that the fee for the 2013-2014 audit is at the same level as for the current year. |
| | Grant Thornton’s Audit Committee Update Report |
| 10. | Report Tracker and Future Meetings |