Audit Committee

Purpose

The Audit Committee provides an independent forum where representatives of Council, independent specialists and management work together to fulfil specific governance responsibilities as set out in this Terms of Reference.

The Audit Committee is an internal governance process, which is intended to contribute to the improved performance of the organisation. It plays a key role in assisting Council to fulfil its governance and oversight responsibilities in relation to a number of areas including, financial reporting, internal control systems, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance and audit functions.

The Audit Committee is an advisory body only and must keep Council informed of its activities.

The Audit Committee does not diminish management or a Councillor’s individual or overall responsibilities.

Council intends to work progressively towards the achievement of better practice in a local government environment, and has included in the Terms of Reference an obligation for the committee to develop its own skills for this purpose.

• Terms of Reference (PDF, 827.5 KB)

Membership

The membership of the committee will comprise two Councillors nominated by council and up to two external members (one being the Independent Chair of the committee). In accordance with section 210 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, at least one member of the committee will have skills in financial matters.  Current membership of the committee is as follows;

Council may appoint an ‘alternate’ member as provided for in Section 266 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.  An alternate member of a committee is a person who attends meetings of the committee and acts as a member of the committee only if another member of the committee is absent from the meeting of the committee.  Councils nominated alternate member is Councillor Maurie Soars.