The Committee considered the report of the Head of Audit Partnership setting out a number of options for the training and development of Members/Substitute Members/Independent Members of the Audit Committee.  It was noted that:-

·  Local Government Improvement and Development had been commissioned jointly by Ashford, Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils to undertake a peer review of their Audit Committees.  The objective of the review was to allow each Audit Committee to be benchmarked against examples of best practice and thereby help the Committee to become more effective in undertaking its functions.  The final report had identified six main areas of development for the Maidstone Audit Committee, one of which was that a more robust training programme was needed for Committee Members.

·  The Council had agreed that no Member would be able to serve on the Committee (and the Licensing and Planning Committees) without having agreed to undertake a minimum period of training on the policies and procedures of the Committee as specified by the Committee.  This training should be completed to an agreed level according to an agreed programme within an agreed time period set by the Committee for newly appointed Members and Substitute Members of the Committee.  If the training had not been completed by the due date, the Member would cease to be a Member/Substitute Member of the Committee until the training had been completed.

RESOLVED:

1.  That a training programme be developed for Members/Substitute Members/Independent Members of the Audit Committee based on the following:-

·  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 sessions 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.

2.  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.

3.  That consideration as to whether full Members of the Committee and the Independent Member should be required to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32