Iain Miles, Internal Auditor Manager, introduced the report of the Chief Internal Auditor that informed 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 ‘Audit Committees – Practical Guidance for Local Authorities 2018’ recommended the use of a self-assessment checklist to achieve this task. Councillor Jeff Green, Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee had completed the checklist attached at Appendix 1 to the report, along with a corresponding Action Plan at Appendix 2.

The Internal Audit Manager reported that the Chair had utilised the checklist to complete the evaluation and prepared the associated action plan identifying areas for action and development. The views expressed in the Appendices were presented to the wider Committee to consider and agree a final conclusion as to the outcome and any actions arising.

The self-assessment and evaluation concluded that the Audit and Risk management Committee fulfilled its core objectives, all of which align with best practice. A number of areas had been identified for improvement and to assist the Committee going forward, in line with evolving best practice as identified in the CIPFA best practice publication.

The key actions arising were as follows:

• Review and update the terms of reference for the Committee in line with the CIPFA best practice publication identified in this report;
• Continue to review and challenge the role of the Committee and its interaction with Cabinet and other Committees particularly in relation to wider areas of business identified in the CIPFA publication;
• Ensure that all Members of the Committee are provided with relevant training and development in all disciplines appropriate for this Committee;
• Continue to assess the Committee against the core knowledge and skills required for Members to inform any future training plans;
• Introduce a system for evaluating performance and organisational value adding properties of the Committee on an ongoing basis.

Resolved - That

1)  the report be noted; and

2)  the Self-Assessment Checklist and Action Plan (appendices 1 & 2 to the report) be approved.