The Chief Internal Auditor reported that to comply with best professional practice the Audit and Risk Management Committee was required to complete an annual evaluation of its role and effectiveness as part of the systems of internal audit. The CIPFA publication ‘A Toolkit for Local Authority Audit Committees’   recommends the use of a self assessment checklist to achieve the task. The Chief Internal Auditor in conjunction with the Chair had completed the checklist which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Attached at Appendix 2 to the report was a draft Action Plan developed following the   exercise which identified recommendations to improve the existing arrangements and address any risks. Implementation would be monitored by Internal Audit and an update report on this provided to a future meeting of the Committee.

In response to Members, Mr Niblock indicated that progress on the checklist would be undertaken and reported back to Members on progress made.  Officers were made aware of their responsibilities in relation to action to be taken and training for Members would be undertaken in April 2013 to discuss issues raised.

Resolved – That the self assessment checklist draft action plan be noted and approved.