1.
The role of
the Audit and Standards Committee is two-fold:
Audit and Governance
2.
The Committee is responsible for ensuring that the authority
operates an effective and proportionate system of internal control.
It oversees the effectiveness of authority’s Code of
Corporate Governance, which sets out the policies, processes and
practices that comprise the authority’s internal control
environment. It makes recommendations to Council and Cabinet, where
required, to secure continuous improvement in the authority’s
internal control environment.
3.
In particular, the Committee:
·
oversees the authority’s internal audit and risk
functions
·
receives and approves external audit reports
·
scrutinises the Annual Statement of Accounts
Members Standards
4.
The Committee is responsible for overseeing standards of Member
conduct. It is responsible for ensuring that the Member Code of
Conduct remains current and effective.
Statement of Purpose
5.
The committee’s purpose is to provide an independent and
high-level focus on the adequacy of governance, risk and internal
control arrangements. Its role is to ensure that there is
sufficient assurance over governance, risk and the internal control
environment, giving confidence to those responsible for corporate
governance that those arrangements are effective.
6.
The committee has oversight of internal and external audit,
together with key financial and governance reports, helping to
ensure there are adequate arrangements in place for both internal
challenge and public accountability.
Terms of
Reference
Audit and Governance
7.
Support a comprehensive understanding of governance across the
council and among those responsible for governance.
8.
Consider the effectiveness of the authority’s risk management
arrangements. It should understand the authority’s risk
appetite and profile and seek assurances that active arrangements
are in place on risk-related issues for both the authority and its
collaborative arrangements.
9.
Monitor the effectiveness of the system of internal control,
including arrangements for financial management, ensuring value for
money and managing the authority’s exposure to the risks of
fraud and corruption.
10.
Consider the arrangements in place to secure adequate assurance
across the authority’s full range of operations and
collaborations with other entities.
11.
In relation to the authority’s internal audit functions:
·
Oversee its independence, objectivity, performance and conformance
to professional standards.
·
Support effective arrangements for internal audit.
·
Promote the effective use of internal audit within the assurance
framework.
12.
Consider the opinion, reports and recommendations of external audit
and inspection agencies and their implications for governance, risk
management or control, and monitor management action in response to
the issues raised by external audit and inspection agencies.
13.
Contribute to the operation of efficient and effective external
audit arrangements, supporting the independence of auditors and
promoting audit quality.
14.
Support effective relationships between all providers of assurance,
audits and inspections, and the organisation, encouraging openness
to challenge, review and accountability.
Member Standards
15.
Promoting and
maintaining high standards of conduct by Members and co-opted
people serving on the authority’s committees
(Co-Optees).
16.
Advising the Council
on the adoption or revision of the Member Code of
Conduct.
17.
Adopting and agreeing revisions to the Code of Conduct Complaints
Handling Procedure.
18.
Monitoring the
operation of the Code of Conduct.
19.
Having oversight of all aspects of Councillor development.
