Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2016 were signed as a correct record.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

To answer questions from members of the public – 2 days’ notice of which must have been given in writing or by electronic mail.

None received.

The Assurance, Risk and Audit Manager presented the Assurance, Risk and Audit (ARA) Strategic Plan and the ARA Plan for 2016/17.

The Committee noted the key areas of corporate risk, change, development and demand, which were to be reviewed.

With regard to flood grants and recovery, listed in the above key areas within the report, Members asked how expenditure would be prioritised. The Assurance, Risk and Audit Manager sign posted the Committee to the Cumbria County Council website for information on this.

Members noted the level of chargeable time of the ARA service, detailed within the report.

Members noted the ARA Strategic Plan and ARA Plan for 2016/17.

Agreed

It was agreed that the Assurance, Risk and Audit Strategic Plan and the Assurance, Risk and Audit Plan for 2016/17 be noted.

R Robinson, Grant Thornton presented the external auditors’ Audit Plan for the Council for the year ending March 2016.

The plan set out an overview of the planned scope and timing of the audit, to help the Council understand the consequences of the auditors’ work, discuss issues of risk and the concept of materiality and to identify any areas where the Council may have requested that additional procedures be undertaken.

The plan set out a summary of challenges and opportunities the Council was facing and the auditors’ response to them, including the Autumn Statement 2015 and financial health, Devolution, flooding, Allerdale Investment Partnership and the new leisure centre.

Significant risks to the Council were identified in the plan, including fraudulent transactions in the revenue cycle, management over-ride of controls, valuation of pension fund net liability and valuation of property, plant and equipment and investment property. The auditors provided their substantive audit procedures to each risk.

The report set out the auditors’ plans to assess whether the Council had put in place proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources (Value for Money (VfM) conclusion).

Included in the plan were the fees for the auditor’s services and a full disclosure, as was required by Ethical Standards and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) 260.

Members noted the plan.

Agreed

It was agreed that the plan be noted.