Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Audit Partnership concerning the protocol which had been drawn up to underpin the working relationship between Mid-Kent Audit and Grant Thornton and to establish a framework for co-ordination, co-operation and the exchange of information, thus helping to (a) ensure that best use is made of overall audit resources and (b) avoid additional costs.

The Chairman advised the Committee that together with other Audit Committee Chairmen from across the County, he had attended a Kent Audit Committee networking meeting hosted by Grant Thornton.  The meeting, which it was proposed to hold on an annual basis, had been interesting and informative.  Issues raised included suggestions that Audit Committees should undertake a self-assessment on an annual basis and that the Chairman of the Audit Committee should be the person to whom whistleblowers may address their concerns.  The development and monitoring of Committee work programmes was also discussed, but this was already in hand at Maidstone.

RESOLVED:  That the protocol between Internal and External Audit be noted.