Issue - meetings

The Corporate Policy Manager introduced the report regarding the results of the survey, completed by Members, on the effectiveness of the Governance and Audit Committee. He summarised that the survey was based on advice offered by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) (2018) suggesting that it was useful for audit committees to undertake a self-assessment of their effectiveness and the report gave details of the questions and responses. He stated that eight Members of the Committee completed the survey which was a response rate of 80%.

It was explained that to make progress against the issues raised, it was proposed that the Committee form a working group of at least three members to further review the findings and devise an improvement plan which the Committee would oversee. A draft terms of reference for the group was attached the report and it was highlighted that the Governance & Audit Committee was already committed to the inclusion of its improvement plan among the issues detailed within the Annual Governance Statement Action Plan for 2019/20.

The Chairman invited Members to be included in the working group and it was agreed that the group be comprised of Councillors T. Coulson, S. Bunney, J. Brockway and Mr A. Morriss.

With this agreed it was

            RESOLVED that:

a)    the appointment of a working group be approved to develop an improvement plan to address the identified issues and the terms of reference be agreed; and

b)    the progress of the improvement plan be monitored by the Committee and assurance be sought that measures put in place are proportionate and effective.