Audit Committee

Thursday 11 May 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Hill, McCabe, Mitchell, Moran, Robertson  and Stewart.

Chair:    Councillor McCabe presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Mr A Henderson (for Director of Education Services), Mr H McNeilly (for Solicitor to the Council), Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Internal Auditor.

Present Also:  Mrs A Cassels and Mr D Richardson, Audit Scotland.

Apologies:  Councillor Nimmo.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

378

External Audit Action Plans

378

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer providing an update on progress made against previously issued External Audit Action Plans.

Noted

379

External Audit - Progress Report

379

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer appending reports entitled (1) Audit Risk Analysis and Plan 2005/06, (2) Financial Statements Strategy and (3) Overview of the Local Authority Audits 2005 which had been produced by Audit Scotland since the last meeting of the Committee.

Decided: that the Committee endorse the findings of the Audit Risk Analysis 2005/06 and note the contents of the Financial Statements Strategy and Overview of the Local Authority Audits 2005.

380

Annual Risk Management Report

380

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the annual report on progress made in 2005/06 in developing and monitoring a strategic approach to managing risks faced by the Council as part of the Corporate Governance Framework.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the current status of developing and monitoring a coherent Corporate Risk Management approach to managing risks faced by the Council and the proposed actions for regaining control over the process; and

(2) that it be noted that a report on Corporate Risk Management will be submitted to the Committee by October 2006.

381

Internal Audit Annual Report and Assurance Statement 2005/06

381

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Interim Chief Internal Auditor on the Internal Audit Annual Report and Assurance Statement for 2005/06 which will form part of the Council’s Statement of Internal Financial Control.

Decided: that the Internal Audit Annual Report and Assurance Statement for 2005/06 set out in the appendix to the report be approved.

382

Internal Audit Operational Plan 2006/07

382

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the Internal Audit Operational Plan for 2006/07.

Decided: that the Internal Audit Operational Plan for 2006/07 set out in the appendix to the report be approved.

383

Internal Audit - Progress Report

383

There was submitted a report dated 20 April 2006 by the Interim Chief Internal Auditor on the work undertaken by the Internal Audit section for the period 25 February 2006 to 20 April 2006.

Decided: that the Committee note the progress made by Internal Audit in the reporting period.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

384

Internal Audit - Progress Report: Appendix

384

There was submitted appendix to the Internal Audit Progress Report providing details of special investigations undertaken since the last meeting of the Committee.

Noted