Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

RESOLVED THAT

1.    It be agreed that the South West Audit Partnership (SWAP) provide the council’s internal audit service from 1^st April 2017.

2.    The Authority becomes a member council of South West Audit Partnership Limited from 1st April, 2017.

3.    The Section 151 Officer be authorised to finalise the arrangement referred to above in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member(s) and the Borough Solicitor.

4.    The chairman of the Audit Committee be appointed to the Members’ Board and the Section 151 Officer to the Board of Directors.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services introduced the report and explained that Internal Audit Services were currently provided by Audit Cotswolds to Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council. Forest of Dean District Council received its Internal Audit Services from South West Audit Partnership (SWAP). As a result of a review in order to ensure effective and efficient working arrangements, it became clear that it would be preferable for one internal audit provider to be commissioned to provide internal audit services for the shared services, and/or all of the Council’s services.

The report was considered by the Audit Committee on 21 September and agreed unanimously. In addition the 2020 Partnership Joint Committee considered a report at its meeting on 30 September. They recommended partner councils become members of SWAP, a company limited by guarantee, and also recommended to the partner councils to commission internal audit services from SWAP with effect from 1 April 2017.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    It be agreed that the South West Audit Partnership (SWAP) provide the council’s internal audit service from 1^st April 2017.

2.    The Authority becomes a member council of South West Audit Partnership Limited from 1st April, 2017.

3.    The Section 151 Officer be authorised to finalise the arrangement referred to above in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member(s) and the Borough Solicitor.

4.    The chairman of the Audit Committee be appointed to the Members’ Board and the Section 151 Officer to the Board of Directors.