Committee details - Audit and Governance Committee

Committee details

Audit and Governance Committee

Purpose of committee

Terms of Reference

                Audit and Finance

a)    Review and approve the financial statements, external auditor’s opinion and reports to members, and monitor management action in response to the issues raised by external audit.

b)    To consider the Head of Internal Audit’s annual report and opinion on the Council’s corporate governance arrangements.

c)    To conduct reviews of the effectiveness of the Council’s system of internal audit.

d)    Be satisfied that the authority’s assurance statement, including the annual governance statement, properly reflects the risk environment and any actions required to improve it.

e)    Approve (but not direct) internal audit’s strategy, plan and monitor performance.

f)     Review summary internal audit reports and the main issues arising, and seek assurance that action has been taken, where necessary.

g)    Consider the effectiveness of the authority’s risk management arrangements, the control environment and associated anti-fraud and anti-corruption arrangements, and seek assurance that action is being taken to mitigate those risks identified.

h)    To make recommendations to Council on Contract Standing Orders.

i)      To make recommendations to Council on the Financial Procedure Rules.

j)      To maintain an overview of the Council’s Whistle-blowing Policy.

                Standards

To discharge the functions as set out in Part 1, Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 including:

a)    To promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of Shepway District Council and to make recommendations to Council on improving standards.

b)    To advise and assist parish/town councils, and parish/town councillors, to maintain high standards of conduct and to make recommendations to parish/town councils on improving standards.

c)    To advise the District Council on the adoption of, or revisions to, its Code of Conduct.

d)    To advise, train, or arrange to train, district members, co-opted members and parish/town councillors on matters relating to the Code of Conduct.

e)    To assist the district councillors, co-opted members and parish/town councillors to observe their respective Codes of Conduct.

f)     To monitor and assess the operation and effectiveness for dealing with the Code of Conduct and to review and manage the arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints.

g)    To advise on local ethical governance protocols and procedures.

h)    To maintain oversight of the District Council’s arrangements for dealing with Code of Conduct complaints.

i)      To act as an advisory body in respect of any ethical governance matter.

j)      To monitor and review the procedures for the Register of Members’ Interests and declaring gifts and hospitality.

k)    To receive quarterly reports (or less frequently, if there are no complaints to report), from the Monitoring Officer, on the number and nature of complaints received, and action taken, as a result, in consultation with the Independent Person.

l)      To receive an annual report on the District Council’s ethical governance arrangements.

m)  To make recommendations to Council on the appointment of an Independent Person(s) under S28 of the Localism Act 2011.

n)    To grant dispensations pursuant to Section 33(2) of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraph 8 of the adopted Code of Conduct where:

o   so many members of the decision-making body have Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in a matter, that it would impede the transaction of the business; or

o   without a dispensation, no member of the executive would be able to participate on a particular item of business;

o   without a dispensation, the representation of different political groups, on the body transacting the business, would be so upset as to alter the outcome of any voting on the matter;

o   that the authority considers that the dispensation is in the interests of persons living in the area; or

o   where the committee considers that it is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.

 

Membership

Contact information

Support officer: Sue Lewis.

Phone: 01303 853265/3267

Email: committee@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk

Web site: http://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk