The Audit Committee takes place on a quarterly basis during the months of March, June, September and December.

The Purpose of the Audit Committee

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to promote good internal control, financial management, risk, governance and performance management, in order to provide reasonable assurance of effective and efficient operation, and compliance with laws and regulations, including the Council’s Financial and Security Regulations, Contract Standing Orders and accounting codes of good practice.

Services Covered by the Audit Committee

a) Audit Activity

• To agree the internal audit strategic plan, oversee and review action taken on internal audit recommendations;
• To consider the External Auditors Annual Letter, relevant reports, and the report to those charged with governance and other specific External Audit reports;
• To comment on the scope and depth of External Audit work and to ensure that it gives value for money;
• To commission work from Internal and External Audit;
• To consider the performance of Internal and External Audit;
• To promote good financial practice within the Council.

b) Regulatory Framework

• To maintain an overview of the Council’s Constitution in respect of contract   procedure rules, and financial regulations;
• To monitor the effective development and operation of risk management and corporate governance in the Council;
• To monitor the Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategy and the Council’s arrangements for dealing with any allegations of fraud or similar improper behaviour;
• To oversee the production of the Council’s Statement on Internal Control;
• To consider the Council’s compliance with its own and other published standards and controls.

c) Accounts

• To examine the activities and accounts of the Council and exercise a governance role over management efforts;
• To review the annual statement of accounts;
• To consider the External Auditors report to those charged with Governance on issues arising from the audit of the accounts;
• To promote good performance management practice within the Council;
• Assess the effectiveness of the Council’s Performance Management System;
• To regularly review outputs from the Council’s Performance Management System;
• To commission specific performance reviews to be carried out where necessary;
• To review Best Value arrangements and outcomes, with consideration of both external and internal Best Value reports, strategy/plans and outcomes of Best Value reviews;
• To overview key performance indicator outcomes, including quarterly service performance reporting and Statutory Performance Indicator outcomes;
• To review the impact of national performance reports from external bodies such as Audit Scotland and consider their impact on future audit plans for performance work to be undertaken by both external and internal audit.

Membership

The Audit Committee comprises 5 Councillors and 2 independent members who are external to the Council;

Mr Ian Ross (Chair)

Mr Martin Caldwell (Vice Chair)

Councillor Gordon Chalmers

Councillor Daniel Kelly

Councillor David Kinniburgh

Councillor James Robb

Councillor George Freeman

Vacancy Opposition