Meeting documents

Audit Committee
Tuesday, 29th September, 2015 7.00 pm

NumberItem
 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 30th June 2015 (attached) 
4.Part I – For Decision
 This report presents the 2014/15 Statement of Accounts forapproval.The Auditor’s Report is appended and she will be present atthe meeting to introduce this and take questions.The Appointed Auditor has issued an unqualified opinion onthe accounts.Once approved the accounts will be published.
 Statement of Accounts 2014/15 and the External Auditor’s Audit Findings Report 
5.Further to discussions with the Audit Committee this proposal sets out a methodology to allow Members earlier and more detailed engagement in audit reports which conclude controls offer only ‘weak’ or ‘poor’ assurance
 Weak and Poor Assurance Reporting 
6.Part II – Monitoring/Information Items
 This report updates on the progress made towards the areas of review highlighted by the 2014-2015 Annual Governance Statement
 Annual Governance Statement – Progress on Remedying Exceptions 
7.This report provides the Audit Committee with the progress officers are making in reviewing the Risk Management processes currently adopted by the council. This follows on from previous briefings by the Head of the Audit Partnership who along with the Head of Personnel and Development have led and co-ordinated the work at Ashford on behalf of the management team. The report summarises the work so far that has focused on constructing a new set of parameters and criteria for assessing risks that will identify risks needing management and mitigation plans. This is work in progress which the committee is asked to consider and comment on. Management Team’s intention is to then apply the framework to support the new corporate plan (due to be reported to Cabinet in October) and the identification of key strategic risks and subsequently to service areas for the identification of key service risks. Once a new framework and risk portfolio is adopted the Committee will then have the opportunity to be updated on key risks more routinely.
 Strategic Risk Management 
8.Report Tracker and Future Meetings