Agenda and minutes

Members and Officers of the Committee stood in silent tribute to HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh whose death had been announced on Friday 9 April 2021.

Mr Flunder placed on record his receipt of a small business loan via Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the first Annual Report on its work which had been produced in compliance with CIPFA good practice.  The report detailed the role of the Committee in monitoring and reviewing the Council’s Governance, Risk Management and Audit functions and listed a number of key areas considered through internal audit reports, counter fraud and corruption work, policy reviews and the evaluation of risks from both internal practices and procedures and potentially from outside influences such as cyber attacks.

The report particularly referred to members’ involvement in furthering changes to the delivery of major services including SEND Services and various aspects of Adult Social Care. Both the Committee and the Internal Audit Team had been responsive to additional pressures during 2020/21 due to COVID 19, with the latter extending their work programme to facilitate involvement in a range of functions including systems design and contract monitoring.

Reference was made to the Committee’s previous consideration of the Council’s Health, Safety and Well-Being Performance Annual Report for 2019/20, particularly in relation to furthering mental well-being, with members calling for the development of liaison and joint working with other councils and agencies to progress this agenda.

RESOLVED - That the Annual Report be noted.

Under Public Sector Standards and Guidance, the Authority was required to have an Audit Charter detailing the internal audit function’s position within the Council, it’s reporting lines, access to personnel and information, scope of internal audit activities and it’s governance arrangements.

In accordance with the requirement to regularly review the Charter, the Committee considered a number of minor changes to it’s content which were proposed to ensure that it reflected the Council’s current organisation and governance and the responsibilities of the Internal Audit Service.

RESOLVED – That the updated Internal Audit Charter 2021 be approved.

The Committee considered the outline Forward Plan for 2021/22 noting that it’s content would be determined by a new Committee, taking account of identified risk areas.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated.

Report To Follow