Issue - items at meetings - Audit Commission: Progress Report 2009/10

9.1             RESOLVED- That the Audit Commission Progress Report be noted by the Committee.

9.1             The Committee considered the Audit Commission’s Progress Report. The purpose of the report was to update the Audit Committee on its progress as the Council’s external auditor.

9.2             Councillor Kitcat conveyed his sadness on the decision of central government to finalise the work of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) which he believed to be a valuable tool of local government. He enquired if this decision would impact the audit fee set by the Audit Commission, if there was a contingency plan for the loss of the CAA and if its website would be continued in spite of this.

9.3             The District Auditor explained that there were three parts to the fee paid to the Audit Commission. The Area Assessment (1) which was grant funded, the Managing Performance Assessment (2) which had a set fee which would involve a payment. There was also the Organisation Assessment (3) for which some of the work had been completed but this element would be subject to consultation from central government to all local authorities which the District Auditor recommended the council produce feedback for. The District Auditor continued that despite the success of the CAA website, its future would depend upon the impending discussions on further discussion with central government.

9.4             RESOLVED- That the Audit Commission Progress Report be noted by the Committee.