Meeting documents
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Thursday, 27th September 2007
Venue : Committee Room 2 - Wallasey Town Hall
Index to Agendas
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- MINUTES
- FINAL ACCOUNTS AND GOVERNANCE
- STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
- AUDIT COMMISSION PRESENTATION - REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS
- DATA QUALITY
- COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - USE OF RESOURCES ACTION PLAN
- CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
- REVIEW OF CORPORATE RISK REGISTER
- CORPORATE RISK AND INSURANCE MANAGEMENT
- CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
- INTERNAL AUDIT CHARTER
- INTERNAL AUDIT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
- INTERNAL AUDIT WORK - JUNE TO AUGUST 2007
- OFFICE SECURITY
- MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SERVICE
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHRONICLE (LGC) AWARDS 2007
- ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS APPROVED BY THE CHAIR
Item 1 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Summary:
Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.
Item 2 - MINUTES
Summary:
To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2007, which were received or approved by the Council.
Item 3 - FINAL ACCOUNTS AND GOVERNANCE
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 4 - STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
Summary:
The Statement of Accounts for 2006/2007 was approved by this Committee on 28 June 2007 and was then subject to audit. The District Auditor has reported her findings within the Annual Governance Report elsewhere on this agenda.
In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 any amendments requested have now to be presented, along with revised accounts, for approval.
Recommendation:
That the Statement of Accounts for 2006/2007 be approved.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 5 - AUDIT COMMISSION PRESENTATION - REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 6 - DATA QUALITY
Summary:
Verbal report by the Head of Policy
Item 7 - COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - USE OF RESOURCES ACTION PLAN
Summary:
This report provides an update on progress against the Use of Resources (UoR) action plan. This will be assessed in the forthcoming Use of Resources inspection to be undertaken by the Audit Commission and forms part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).
Recommendation:
That the progress in delivering the Use of Resources Action Plan be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 8 - CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Summary:
This report sets out for the information of Members recommendations for revisions to the corporate approach to managing risk. A copy of the proposed strategy document is attached as an appendix.
Recommendation:
(1) That Members approve the revised corporate risk management strategy.
(2) That Members who could not be present at previous risk management training sessions attend the event planned for later in the year.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 9 - REVIEW OF CORPORATE RISK REGISTER
Summary:
This report confirms details of the work recently undertaken by Chief Officers to review the issues on the corporate risk register and summarises how the revised register will be managed and reported. A draft schedule of corporate risks is included which was presented to the Cabinet on 20 September 2007 for comment.
Recommendation:
That the list of corporate risks be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 10 - CORPORATE RISK AND INSURANCE MANAGEMENT
Summary:
This report provides information to Members on progress made in corporate risk and insurance management against the objectives for these services, and anticipated developments in the coming months.
Recommendation:
That the report be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 11 - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Summary:
This report summarises the ‘CIPFA/SOLACE Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework’ published in July 2007.
This replaces the previous Corporate Governance guidance and requires local authorities to undertake specific actions and have in place principles that should underpin the governance of each local government body from 2007/08. This should ensure that the Council complies with the Framework and accordingly the statutory requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2006.
Recommendation:
That the report be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 12 - INTERNAL AUDIT CHARTER
Summary:
The Internal Audit Charter has been reviewed and amended to take account of:
• Recommendations of the Audit Commission following the review of Internal Audit,
• Developments affecting Internal Audit including the establishment of the Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Provisions of the CIPFA 2006 Code OF Practice for Internal Audit.
The rights of Internal Audit’s access to partner organisations, authority to obtain information from such bodies and access rights to information held by third parties (eg contract information) is specified in the Charter and should be included in contracts and partnership agreements.
Recommendation:
(1) That the Internal Audit Charter be approved.
(2) That the Director of Corporate Services arrange for all contracts and partnerships agreements to include appropriate clauses to enable Internal Audit to have right of access to information and staff.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 13 - INTERNAL AUDIT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Summary:
Following the introduction of the new CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal Audit in Local Government and a recent review of the Internal Audit service by the Audit Commission a number of indicators for regularly measuring the performance of the internal audit service have been implemented to enhance those already in use.
A report was submitted to this Committee on 28 June 2007 and further details were requested.
Recommendation:
That the introduction of the new performance indicators for Internal Audit be agreed, in line with the Audit Commission recommendation.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 14 - INTERNAL AUDIT WORK - JUNE TO AUGUST 2007
Summary:
In order to assist in effective corporate governance and fulfil statutory requirements, the Internal Audit Section of the Finance Department reviews management and service delivery arrangements within the Council as well as financial control systems. Work areas are selected for review on the basis of risks as assessed by Internal Audit in consultation with Chief Officers and Managers.
Recommendation:
That the report be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 15 - OFFICE SECURITY
Summary:
At the last meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee a report on Office Security was considered. It was agreed that I present a further report to the next meeting of this Committee with regard to timescales for the implementation of the required works. This report sets out progress to date.
Recommendation:
That the report be noted and a further report be presented to this Committee at the earliest possible opportunity.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 16 - MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SERVICE
Summary:
This report brings members up to date with the actions taken following the Internal Audit of the Museum and Art Gallery Service in January 2007.
Recommendation:
That the report be noted.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 17 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHRONICLE (LGC) AWARDS 2007
Summary:
This report is to inform Members of the intention to submit an entry for the Risk Management Award at the LGC Awards 2007. Attendance at the awards ceremony if the Authority is shortlisted should be referred to the Cabinet for approval of duty.
Recommendation:
(1) That the Committee is requested to consider the question of attendance at the awards ceremony on 5 November 2007.
(2) That attendance be referred to the Cabinet for approval of duty.
Attachments: (click on an attachment to view it)
Item 18 - ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS APPROVED BY THE CHAIR
Agenda Published: 14 September 2007