Committee details - Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee

The audit functions of this Committee relate to the Council’s arrangements for the discharge of its powers and duties in connection with financial governance and stewardship, risk management and audit. It plays a key role in acting as a critical friend to the Council and in helping to build trust in the Council’s arrangements. The Committee receives referrals from and makes recommendations to the Council, from/to Cabinet, to Officers or to other relevant body within the Council.

The Standards functions of this Committee seek to ensure that the Members, Co-opted Members and Officers of the Council observe high ethical standards in performing their duties. These functions include advising the Council on its Codes of Conduct and administering related complaints and dispensation procedures.

The Committee is also empowered to act in relation to all non-executive functions which are not expressly delegated to another Committee or Sub-Committee.

The Committee through its Employment Sub-Committee discharges those personnel functions which by virtue of The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 cannot be discharged by the Head of Paid Service.

In addition to the Members who serve on the Audit, Standards & General Purposes Committee, the Committee includes at least two independent persons who are not Members. They are appointed under Chapter 7 of the Localism Act, or otherwise co-opted, and act in an advisory capacity with no voting powers.

In the terms of reference of this Committee, a “Member” is an elected Member and a “Co-opted Member” is a person co-opted by the Council, for example to advise or assist a Committee or Sub-Committee of the Council.