No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cawthorne.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards and Audit Committee held on 27 October, 2021 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chair.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager presented a report summarising the internal audit reports issued during the period September 2021 to October 2021 in relation to the 2021/22 internal audit plan.

It was noted that three reports had been issued during this period which had been given the following levels of assurance:

­   ‘Substantial assurance’ – one

­   ‘Reasonable assurance’ – two

A summary of these reports was provided in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report; no fraud had been detected.

Members were also informed on the progress against the internal audit plan which was detailed in Appendix 2 of the officer’s’ report.

*RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager presented a report outlining the CIPFA Guidance for Local Authority Audit Committees which included a tool for use by Audit Committees to undertake a self-assessment of good practice.

The Standards and Audit Committee undertook their first self-assessment in November 2020 and subsequently produced an action plan which was attached at Appendix 2 of the officer’s report.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager went through the action plan and Members had the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the progress made. With regard to question one of the action plan, Members discussed ways to raise the profile of the Committee and proposed requesting the Cabinet Member for Governance to act as a sponsor, highlighting the role of the Committee within the authority whenever appropriate.

*RESOLVED –

1.    That the CIPFA Guidance for Local Authority Audit Committees, as detailed at Appendix 1 of the officer’s report, be noted.

2.    That the action plan be updated to include an action against question one to request that the Cabinet Member for Governance act as a sponsor for the Committee in order to raise the profile of the role and purpose of the Committee across the authority.

The work programme for the Standards and Audit Committee for 2021/22 was considered.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be noted.