Members received the report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive that set out the results of the Audit and Standards Committee’s (ASC) first self-assessment and identified actions to help improve the effective of the Committee. 

The Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) set out guidance on the function and operation of audit committees. It was considered good practice for audit committees to complete a regular self-assessment exercise to be satisfied that the committee was performing effectively.  In addition, the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards also called for audit committees to assess their remit and effectiveness, in relation to Purpose, Authority and Responsibility, to facilitate the work of the committee.

The Council’s External Auditor Grant Thornton, had, in their Value for Money assessment for 2021/22 accounts, recommended that the Council implement a rolling schedule of committee effectiveness reviews; the Committee self-assessment process would help to support that improvement.

As the ASC had not completed the self-assessment process before, a session was facilitated by the Interim Chief Finance Officer during April 2023 to allow the Committee Members to discuss and complete the first draft of the assessment template and supporting action plan. The assessment was also reviewed by the ASC Independent Person (Audit) and comments reflected where appropriate.

Attached at Appendix 1 to the report was the completed self-assessment good practice guide and associated improvement actions. Members considered the improvement actions identified, along with timescales for completion and agreed that all, except for the completion of the Knowledge and Skills Framework Audit, be moved to end of March 2024, but with a view to completing sooner, if possible.

With regard to the Knowledge and Skills Audit (Appendix 2), it was noted that this applied to Members of the Audit and Standards Committee only.  It was agreed that an informal (MS Teams) meeting was held in early September for the Committee to consider the Skills Audit to identify further training needs.  It was considered that some of the knowledge and skills required would already have been delivered through the Member Induction Programme, although not under the umbrella of Audit Committee training.  

Completing the self-assessment helped to give the ASC assurance that it was complying with best practice and operating effectively. It would also help to identify any areas which needed to be improved and could form the basis of an action plan prior to the next self-assessment in March 2024. Undertaking a regular review of its performance against best practice ensured that the ASC had properly assessed the way in which it discharged its duties.

It was noted that Members were keen to see actions from the previous meeting reported to each meeting, even though this was not local authority minuting protocol; how this could be actioned would be considered by officers and reported back to Members in due course. 

RESOLVED: That:

1)   the contents of the report be noted;

2)   all recommendations be completed by the end of March 2024, if not completed sooner; and

3)   an informal MS Teams meeting be arranged for early September to consider the Knowledge and Skills Audit.