Decision details

The Audit Committee received the draft Audit Committee Annual Report to Full Council from The Executive Director Resources and Corporate Services, Jason Vaughan.

The Chair. Audit Committee and the Executive Director Resources and Corporate Service, Jason Vaughan, acknowledged and thanked the Audit Committee for their hard work throughout the year, maintaining a tough work rate and positive attitude through the review of ten sets of accounts and the financial emergency.

The Audit Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

• Cllr Mandy Chilcot asked the Assistant Director SWAP Internal Audit Services, Alastair Woodland if there were any impairments to the independence or objectivity of the head of internal audit arising from additional roles or responsibilities outside of internal auditing and to approve and periodically review safeguards to limit such impairments – The Assistant Director SWAP Internal Audit Services confirmed that there were no impairments for the role that he needed to declare.

• Qualifications, range of skills and valid experience of Audit Committee Members - The Assistant Director SWAP Internal Audit Services undertook to amend the report with the experience / qualifications of Audit Committee members.

The Audit Committee considered and commented on the Somerset Council Audit Committee Annual Report 2023-24 and recommended it for review and consideration to Full Council at the next available meeting.