Outside body

PURPOSE

Governance and Audit is a statutory committee with the following terms of reference:

1.    To review and scrutinise the Combined Authority’s financial affairs.

2.    To review and scrutinise the Treasury Management Strategy prior to adoption by the Combined Authority Board and receive quarterly updates on performance.

3.    To review and assess the Combined Authority’s risk management, internal control and corporate governance arrangements.

4.    To provide independent assurance in respect of the Combined Authority’s functions across the seven statutory areas of competence.

5.    To provide assurance that the Combined Authority’s governance, risk and decision?making arrangements comply with the statutory health duty, ensuring due regard to improving population health and reducing health inequalities across all relevant functions.

6.    To make reports and recommendations to the Combined Authority in relation to reviews conducted under paragraphs 1,2 and 3 above.

7.    To consider the findings of a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control and approve the annual governance statement.

8.    To review and assess the Combined Authority’s arrangements for securing value for money and the effectiveness of these arrangements.

9.    To consider and approve the statement of accounts.

10. To consider and approve the annual audit plan and resource plan including the scope and types of internal audit services and the internal audit charter, including the mandate.

11. To consider the Head of Internal Audit annual report and opinion.

12. To receive reports from the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) on independence and objectivity, resource needs, quality assessment results, and significant risk exposures and control issues and to ensure escalation protocols exist between the Chief Audit Executive, senior management, and the Committee.

13. To oversee the internal audit function’s quality including internal assessments and External Quality Assessment periodically to ensure safeguards are in place and effective to protect audit independence.

14. To consider external audit arrangements and reports and consider any audit letter from the local auditor following an audit.

15. To receive and consider an annual report from the Joint Independent Audit Committee.

16. To consider on a quarterly basis management information.

17. To consider pay gap reports and pay policy review.

18. To promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of the Combined Authority.

19. To advise the Combined Authority in relation to:

               i.         adopting, revising or replacing its Members’ Code of Conduct;

              ii.         appointing at least one independent person; and

             iii.         arrangements for investigating and making decisions about allegations of failing to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

20. To consider and determine any allegation of failing to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct including complaints referred by the Police and Crime Panel.

21. To review and recommend amendments to the Assurance Framework or Constitution relating to governance, risk or audit.

22. To consider reports issued by statutory officers to the Combined Authority Board and monitor the response.

ROLE/EXPECTATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES

To attend formal committee meetings to consider items relating to the work of the Committee.

MEETINGS/TIME COMMITMENT

There are usually 4 meetings per year.