Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation by the Audit Commission on the role and function of the external audit service.

Members received a presentation by officers from the Audit Commission (formerly District Audit) on the role and function of the external audit service.

The presentation explained the legislation under which auditors were appointed and carried out their functions, their main responsibilities under the Code of Audit Practice, key audit reports and outcomes, and how auditors’ judgements fed into the CPA process.  Copies of the slides used for the presentation were circulated at the meeting.

In response to questions from Members, it was explained that auditors’ VFM (‘value for money’) judgements were based upon key criteria specified by the Audit Commission rather than on comparisons between local authorities.  The judgements did not include consideration of policies adopted by individual authorities (such as sustainability) but looked at authorities’ arrangements for getting to where they wanted to be.

RESOLVED: That the Audit Commission officers thanked for their presentation and that the information provided be noted.