Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report provided the business case to establish a Shared Audit Service (SAS) between the Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District and detailed the activity to create it.

 

Decision of the Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation

     i.        Approved the Business Case and delegate authority to the Strategic Director to make decisions and to take steps which are necessary, conducive or incidental to the establishment of the SAS in accordance with the business case.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Director.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

i.             Welcomed proposals which improved efficiencies in accordance with current shared service arrangements.

ii.            Asked for an assurance that members would get the same access to audit functions as they currently do and that there would be no reduction in the number of audit days. Going forward there would be the same flexibility as currently to re-direct audit work if the need arose.

iii.           Asked whether there would be a reduction to the audit service after the first year.

 

Offices said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.             Confirmed that members would continue to have the same access to audit functions as they currently did and that audit resources could be re-prioritised if the need arose. 

ii.            There were currently no plans to reduce the audit service, the performance could be reviewed after the first year of operation of the shared service.

 

The Leader made the following comments:

i.             The hours put in by the Civic Affairs Committee and Audit Team was effective in tackling issues which needed to be looked into.

ii.            There was currently no proposal to change the level of audit services.

iii.           The role of the Civic Affairs Committee would continue.

iv.          A shared service would increase the resilience and robustness of the audit service.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

 

The Leader approved the recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Leader (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Leader.