Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To confirm the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 2 March 2016

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 2 March 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Committee requested clarification on the audit processes for the NORSE JVC.

There were no declarations of interest from any of the members present.

The Chairman welcomed new members to the Committee.

To note the Audit Plan for the year ending 31 March 2016 from external auditors

The Committee considered the paper presented by Ernst and Young LLP. Ian Young of Ernst and Young LLP joined the meeting for the debate on this item and answered members’ questions in connection with the report.

The Audit Plan set out how the external auditors intended to carry out their responsibilities and provided the Committee with a basis to review their proposed audit approach and scope for the 2015/16 audit. The plan also outlined the overall evaluation criterion.

RESOLVED that the Audit Plan for the year ending 31 March 2016 from external auditors be noted.

To approve the Annual Internal Audit Report and Opinions for 2015-2016 from the Southern Internal Audit Partnership

The Committee considered a paper presented by Antony Harvey and Amanda Chalmers of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership, who joined the meeting for the debate on this item and answered members’ questions in connection with the report.

The paper provided the Committee with the Chief Internal Auditor’s opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Council’s framework of governance, risk management and control for the year ending 31 March 2016. The Committee was assured that the Council’s framework was ‘adequate’ and where weaknesses had been identified, work had been undertaken with Council management to agree appropriate actions.

During the course of the discussion, members requested clarification on the number of frauds / errors identified as part of their Anti Fraud and Corruption reporting.

RESOLVED that the Annual Internal Audit Report and Opinions for 2015-2016 from the Southern Internal Audit Partnership be approved.

The Committee considered a report from the Governance and Information Manager providing an update on the highest corporate risks reviewed by the Joint Executive Board on 14 June 2016.

The Chairman requested that a member of the Executive Board be invited to present the Quarterly Update on Corporate Risks at future meetings.

RESOLVED that this item be deferred.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the Constitution had been amended to reflect the new Scheme of Delegations following the recent Senior Management Resourcing Review. The Committee were also informed that there were currently no outstanding Code of Conduct complaints.