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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

28 NOVEMBER 2011

 

REPORT OF HEAD OF AUDIT PARTNERSHIP   

 

Report prepared by Brian Parsons 

 

 

1.           AUDIT COMMITTEE – MEMBER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

 

1.1        Issue for Decision

 

1.1.1   To consider the Audit Committee Training Plan (shown at Appendix A) and agree the content and delivery of the plan, and whether all elements should be mandatory.

 

 

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Audit Partnership

 

1.2.1   That the Committee agrees the content and delivery of the Audit Plan and whether all elements should be mandatory for all full members of the Committee. 

 

 

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1   The Committee considered the report of the Head of Audit Partnership which proposed a number of options for training, in the course of its meeting on 18 July 2011.

 

1.3.2   The report highlighted that the Council had previously agreed that no Member would be able to serve on the Committee without having agreed to undertake a minimum period of training on the policies and procedures of the Committee as specified by the Committee.

 

1.3.3   The Committee resolved that:

 

·         All new Members of the Committee should receive induction training.

 

·         The induction training should be based around the subjects set out in paragraphs 1.4.2 and 1.4.6 of the report of the Head of Audit Partnership. In view of the nature of the work of the Committee, the training should include a steer on how to interpret reports and the questions to be asked.

 

·         An ongoing training programme should be developed based around the topics set out in paragraphs 1.4.3 and 1.4.7 of the report.

 

·         The co-opted Independent Member (when appointed) should receive the same training as full Members of the Committee.

 

·         Substitute Members of the Committee, as occasional attendees, should only be required to undergo induction training but with the option of attending further training sessions.

 

·         Where possible, the training should be delivered over a concentrated period and in a concentrated manner (rather than as briefings prior to actual meetings of the Committee).

 

·         Where practical, joint training should be arranged with Members of Audit Committees of other Councils.

 

·         Members of the Audit Committee do not wish to receive occasional briefing papers to supplement the training sessions.

 

·         That the induction training specified in paragraphs 1.4.2 and 1.4.6 of the report represents the minimum level of training for newly appointed Members/Substitute Members of the Committee and the Independent Member and must be completed within six months of appointment to the Committee.

 

·         That consideration as to whether full Members of the Committee and the Independent Members should be required to attend a minimum percentage of the annual training provided should be deferred until it is known what the training involves.

 

·         That details of the training programme which is drawn up to reflect the decisions set out above should be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

1.3.4   The training plan (programme) has now been devised by the Learning and Development Shared Service Manager and is attached.

 

1.3.5   The training will be provided in the context of the Member Development Policy, the Committee Member Training Criteria and the competency profiles; all of which are available from the Learning and Development Shared Service Manager.

 

1.3.6   The Committee is asked to consider and agree the content of the training plan and decide whether attendance at all training should be mandatory for all full members of the Committee.

 

 

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

1.4.1   The Committee has already agreed to adopt a training programme.

 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

1.5.1   The Committee has a key role to play in terms of ensuring that adequacy of governance and that risks to the delivery of corporate objectives are being properly managed.

 

1.6        Risk Management

 

1.6.1   The adoption of a training programme for the Audit Committee will help the Committee to perform its role and will help to manage the risk of Members being unable to offer informed challenge in the areas that the Committee has responsibility for.

 

1.7        Other Implications

 

1.7.1    

1.      Financial	x
2.           Staffing
3.           Legal
4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment
5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development
6.           Community Safety
7.           Human Rights Act
8.           Procurement
9.           Asset Management

 

 

1.7.2   There is a cost associated with providing training. However, it is anticipated that the majority of the training will be delivered ‘in-house’ whereby the cost will relate to the time of the officers involved.   

 

 

 

 

 

1.8        Relevant Documents

 

1.8.1   Appendices: Appendix A – Audit Committee Training Plan.

 

1.8.2   Background Documents: Report to Audit Committee 18 July 2011 – Audit Committee – Member Training and Development.

 

 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? x     Yes                                               No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   ..     This is a Key Decision because: ..   .       Wards/Parishes affected: ..   ..