Agenda

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2019.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meetingon the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report updates Members on the Council’s proposed Accounting Policies.

The Audit Committee is requested to approve the Council’s proposed Accounting Policies to be adopted in preparing the Council’s 2019/20 Annual Statement of Accounts.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on Tel 0161 218 1025 or email@ jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The purpose of the report is to setout the progress made by internal audit against the approved 2019/20 internal audit plan for the period 1^st November 2019 to 31^st January 2020 (Appendix 2).   

The report also informs Members of the resources utilised by Internal Audit during the period, the activities undertaken in the reporting period, and the status of work currently being undertaken. 

In addition:

·         Summary Dashboard 1 shows the status of all audit work, the dates of the draft and final reports, the level of assurance and the time period that the work was completed.  (Appendix 3). 

·         Summary Dashboard 2 gives an overview of the status of all audit recommendations by audit review and recommendation grading.   

(Appendix 4).   

·         Summary Dashboard 3 shows the same data as dashboard 2 but specifically for school audits.  (Appendix 5).    

The Committee is invited to note and comment on the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email:

john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report advises Members on the Internal Audit Plan 2020/21 and the Internal Audit Charter 2020-21.

Audit Committee is asked to approve the annual internal audit plan and audit charter for 2020/21.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on Tel: 0161 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Governance Group.

The report outlines the key governance issues currently facing the

Council along with agreed controls put in place to manage the issue.  A

quarterly update is provided via communication and challenge to nominated

officers specified by the Corporate Governance Group.

Audit Committee is asked to note and comment on the Annual

Governance Statement Action Plan.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on Tel 0161 474 4033 or email:

john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report sets out the proposed arrangements for completion of the

Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20 (Appendix 9).  The final AGS will be produced and presented at the next Audit Committee.

Audit Committee is asked to approve the process for completion of the Statement.

Officer contact: john Pearsall on Tel 0161 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report sets out the quality assurance arrangements in place for internal audit for 2019/20 along with the self-assessment results of the QIAP for 2019/20 and the proposed basis that the Head of Internal Audit, Risk and Insurance will use for the external assessment of the Council’s internal audit function, which is required under the PSIAS.

Audit Committee is asked to note the QAIP and the results of the self

assessment.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on Tel 0161 474 4033 or email:

john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

At the request of The Corporate Leadership Team, a new Corporate Risk (12) has been added to the Corporate Risk Register entitled Climate Emergency, as declared by Council in March 2019.

The Audit Committee is asked to comment on the current corporate risks

identified in the Register (Appendix 12). 

Officer contact: John Pearsall on Tel 0161 474 4033 or email:

john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support

Services.

The report (Appendix 13) updates members of the Audit Committee on the

recent guidance document produced by the Local Government Association

entitled “A Councillor’s Guide to Procurement”.

Audit Committee is asked to note the contents of the LGA report.

Officer contact:  John Pearsall on Tel: 0161 474 4033 or email: John

Pearsall@stockport.gov.uk    

To consider a report from the external auditor, Mazars.

The report provides a summary of the audit strategy memorandum 2020/21.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

To consider a report from the external auditor, Mazars

The Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on Tel 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall’stockport.gov.uk