Audit Committee - 20 March 2018

NOTICE AND AGENDA

For a meeting to be held in the Penn Chamber, Rickmansworth, on Tuesday 20 March 2018 at 7.30pm.

Members of the Committee:-

Councillors:-      Sarah Nelmes (Chairman)      Steve Drury (Vice-Chairman)

Eric Bishop      Kemal Butt

Joan King      Joy Mann

Keith Martin

Steven Halls, Chief Executive

12 March 2018

The Audit Committee welcomes contributions from members of the public to its discussion on agenda items. Contributions will be limited to one person speaking for and one against each item for not more than three minutes. Details of the procedure and the list for registering the wish to speak will be available for a short period before the meeting.

In accordance with The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 any matters considered under Part I business only of the meeting may be filmed, recorded, photographed, broadcast or reported via social media by any person.

Recording and reporting the Council’s meetings is subject to the law and it is the responsibility of those doing the recording and reporting to ensure compliance. This will include the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and the laws of libel and defamation.

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2.MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 December 2017.

3.NOTICE OF OTHER BUSINESS

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency.   The Chairman to rule on the admission of such items.

4.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive any declarations of interest.

5.FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY RISKS

This report enables the Committee to monitor the Council’s financial and budgetary risks.

6.INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN 2018/19

This report gives details of the SIAS Internal Audit Plan for 2018/19.

7.

INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRESS REPORT 2017/18

This report gives details of the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the internal auditor.

8.CHANGES TO ACCOUNTING POLICIES 2017/18 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

It is recommended practice that this Committee is informed of any significant changes to the Council’s accounting policies that are followed when compiling the annual statement of accounts. This report informs the Committee of any changes.

9.

EXTERNAL AUDITORS ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER 2016/17

This report allows the Committee to note the annual audit letter from the Council’s external auditor (Ernst & Young LLP)

10.EXTERNAL AUDIT -  CERTIFICATION WORK REPORT 2016/17

This report allows the Committee to note the annual certification work report from the Council’s external auditor (Ernst & Young LLP)

11.EXTERNAL AUDITOR AUDIT PLAN 2017/18

This report allows the Committee to note and ask questions of the external auditor (Ernst & Young) concerning their two reports covering:

• Audit Plan 2017/18
• Local Government Audit Committee

12.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

To receive an update.

13.COMMITTEE’S WORK PROGRAMME

To review and make necessary changes to the Audit Committee’s Work Programme.

14.UPDATE ON STAFF VACANCIES

To note the current list of staff vacancies.

15.OTHER BUSINESS – if approved under item 3 above

16.EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

If any confidential business is approved under item 3, it will also be necessary to specify the class of exempt or confidential information in the additional item(s) and a resolution to be passed in the following terms:-

“that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under the respective paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

1.OTHER BUSINESS – if approved under item 3 above.

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