Decision details

Members received the report from the Executive Director requesting the Audit and Standards Committee to consider the appointment of an Audit Independent Person (AIP) to the Committee.  The AIP would be a non-elected member of the public with some experience in the area of audit, similar to the Independent Persons (IPs) appointed under the Localism Act to deal with standards related matters of this Committee’s work. The AIP would be a non-voting Member of the Committee and would be there in an advisory/consultative manner.

It was proposed that recruitment was to be on a competitive basis following the Council’s employment rules, including an open advertisement and interviews, as undertaken for the IPs appointed under the Localism Act.  An advert would be placed on the Council’s website and highlighted through social media messages and MyAlerts inviting applications with a closing date to be confirmed once Council had considered the matter.  The vacancy would also be notified to all Councillors and all Parish and Town Councils within the Rother area.

The expectation was that the AIP would attend every meeting of the Committee and was likely to have discussions with the relevant officers outside of the formal meetings.  It was proposed that an annual allowance of £900 per annum be attached to the role to cover all expenses, including travel to meetings.  It was recommended in the report that the AIP was to be appointed for a term of two years with the option of extending for a further two years.

RECOMMENDED: That:

1)         a non-voting Audit Independent Person be appointed to the Audit and Standards Committee for a period of two years with the option of extending this for a further two years;

2)         the role description, skills and competencies and person specification at Appendix A to the report be agreed; and

3)         the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

AND

RESOLVED: That subject to Council’s approval of recommendations 1 to 3 above:

4)         an Interview Panel be appointed comprising the Chairman of the Audit and Standards Committee, Audit Manager and Assistant Director Resources; and

5)         the proposed appointee be recommended to the next available meeting of the Audit and Standards Committee for onward recommendation to Council.