Audit Committee to consider work of council’s external and internal Auditors and management of council’s risks

The Audit Committee will meet tomorrow to consider the work of the Council’s External and Internal Auditors and the management of the Council’s risks.

The Audit Committee is an open meeting and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

One report relates to Internal Audit work completed during April to August 2017. Internal Audit undertakes regular planned audits of the Council’s financial systems, key governance processes and services.

Another report summarises the Council’s risk registers.

Jerry O’Keeffe, the Independent Lay Member who is chair of the Audit Committee, said: “Both reports are most significant given the challenges that the Council continues to face. Internal Audit provides the Audit Committee with independent assurance that controls within service areas are effective.

“Where they are not, the Audit Committee can and does take further action, including calling senior officers and Councillors to account.

“It is also vitally important that the Council is aware of its major risks, and the Audit Committee obtains assurance that these risks are being managed effectively through effective control processes.”

The Audit Committee will also consider a report from the Wales Audit Office, the Council’s appointed external auditor, which summarises their current and planned work.

Mr O’Keeffe said: ”As well as the internal assurance work that the Audit Committee receives, it is essential that we are able to ensure that the Council is adequately responding to reports on external financial audits, performance audits and national Value for Money studies.”

He added: “It is pleasing that the Wales Audit Office notes that since the last Audit Committee in July, the Auditor has issued an unqualified opinion on the Council’s 2016-17 financial statements and that this was nearly two months earlier than the statutory deadline.”

The Audit Committee will take place at the Guildhall at 4pm on Thursday 28th September.