Issue - meetings

12.1  Audit Committee Annual Report 2013/14

To receive the annual report of the London Borough of Enfield’s Audit Committee for 2013/14.  The report sets out the key issues dealt with by the committee during the past year.

Members are asked to note that the report is due to be considered by the Audit Committee on 9 July 2014.  An update will be provided for Council on any comments made by the Audit Committee in relation to approval of the Annual Report.

12.2  Audit Committee – Terms of Reference

Council is asked to consider and agree, subject to any comments made by Audit Committee, the changes highlighted within the internal audit section of the Audit Committee’s Terms of Reference, which have been designed to reflect the current role of the Committee and Internal Audit service.  These have been highlighted as “tracked changes” and are due to be considered by Audit Committee on 9^th July 2014.  Any comments made by Audit Committee in relation to the proposed changes will be reported to Council, at the meeting.

Members are asked to note that the Terms of Reference also include the functions previously undertaken by the Remuneration Sub Committee, following the change in political management arrangements agreed by Council on 11 June 14.

Councillor Lemonides moved and Councillor Simon seconded:

(a)       the London Borough of Enfield’s Audit Committee Annual Report 2013/14; and

(b)       the amendments to the internal audit section within the Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee, which had been designed to reflect the current role of the Committee and Internal Audit service.

NOTED

1.      The annual report had been considered and recommended onto Council by Audit Committee on 9 July 2014.

2.      The key areas of work undertaken by the Audit Committee during 2013/14, as outlined in the Annual Report, and thanks to members and officers for their support in the work of the Committee over the year.

3.      The following amendment to the Annual Report (tabled at the meeting on the Council amendment sheet) – Section 1: Membership of Committee to include Councillor Don Delman.

4.      Audit Committee (9 July 2014) had considered and approved the proposed amendments to their Terms of Reference (as detailed in Agenda Item 12.2) for reference on to Council.

5.      In addition to the amendments to the Audit Committee Terms of Reference set out under agenda item 12.2, the Chair of the Audit Committee advised of his intention to seek a review of the current requirements in relation to members of the Audit Committee being able to lodge objections to the Council’s Statement of Accounts.  Whilst recognising the legal rights for local government electors to raise objections to the accounts and not seeking to prevent challenge, it was felt that members of the Audit Committee already had sufficient opportunity to raise issues of concern, hence the need for a review.

AGREED to approve:

(1)       The Audit Committee Annual Report 2013/14, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Don Delman under the Committee Membership list in Section 1 of the report.

(2)     The changes, as detailed under agenda item 12.2, to the Internal Audit section of the Audit Committee Terms of Reference in order to ensure that they reflected the current role of the Committee and Internal Audit service.

RECEIVED the annual report from the London Borough of Enfield’s Audit Committee setting out the key issues dealt with by the Committee during the 2012/13 municipal year.

NOTED the annual report had been considered and recommended onto Council by Audit Committee on 9 July 2013.

AGREED that the Audit Committee Annual Report 2012/13 be noted and approved