Minutes of the East Durham College Audit Committee held on 23rd June 2022

Present:

J Bromiley (Chair), E. Bolton, M. Curry, S Duncan, G. Field & R Harrison

In Attendance:

S Judson, Vice-Principal Finance and Business Planning

C. Tomlinson, Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance

D Ridley, (Clerk to the Corporation)

V. Charlton (Committee Secretary)

W. Brown Audit One, Internal Audit

C. Leece RSM, External Audit

Apologises for Absence:

None

524 Private Session of Committee and Auditors

Private discussion of Committee and Auditors to raise any issues which they felt unable to discuss in staff presence.

525 Conflicts of Interest

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

526 Minutes of meeting of 24th March 2022

The Committee noted and approved the minutes of the meeting held on 24th March 2022 as a true and accurate record.

527 Matters Arising

Item 521: The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning would provide an annual report relating to value for money. The Report will be presented to November 2022 Audit Committee.

528 Internal Audit Reports / Health & Safety / Internal Audit Progress Report

The Internal Auditor (Audit One) presented the reports to the committee. The reports were confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

529 External Audit Reports

The External Auditor (RSM) presented the reports to the Committee. The reports were confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

530 College Leadership Group Reports

This section includes:

530 Risk Management Update

The Principal presented an update on risk management. This report and appendices were confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

530 Sub-Contract Arrangements

The Vice Principal Curriculum and Performance presented the report which was confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

530 Cyber Security

The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning presented the report which was confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

530 Audit Tracking Report

The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning presented the Audit Tracking Report which was confidential for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

530 External Governance Review

The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning highlighted a new emerging issue which would require consideration by the committee in the future.

A link to government guidance relating to the requirement to conduct an external governance review was included in agenda. The guidance came from the Skills for Jobs Paper which sets out ways in which governance could be strengthened and reformed and is reflected in the updates to the Code of Good Governance. It suggests that there will be an external governance review to be undertaken every 3 years, and an annual self-assessment. The 3-year period is from July 21 to August 24, and at some point in that period the college must undertake an external governance review, and there will be an associated cost.

Review to form part of the discussion at the Strategic Planning Day.

531 Any Other Business

The Vice Principal Finance and Business Planning advised that the Procurement Waiver report would be presented to the next Audit Committee in November.

Last modified: 16/01/2024