The Audit Committee will normally meet at least quarterly in accordance with the programme of meetings determined by the Council at its Annual Meeting. The date and time of any other meeting shall be determined by the Chairman or, in his/her absence, by the Vice-Chairman. The Committee or its Chairman to vary the programme if it’s in the interest of the Council.

2. Quorum

The quorum for the Audit Committee shall be as set out for committees in the Council’s Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution, namely three members.

3. Membership

3.1 The Chairman of the Audit Committee must not be a member of the Cabinet nor the Chairman of either the Scrutiny or the Overview Committee.

3.2 The members on this Committee will be trained on financial/risk and accounting issues.

4. Work Programme

The Audit Committee will be responsible for setting its own work programme and in doing so it shall take into account the wishes of Members on the Committee.

5. Conducting Reviews and Investigations

(a) The Audit Committee may carry out reviews of the Council’s procedures at the request of other committees or Council officers (see Article 9 paragraph 10.03) When it does so it may require any Member or Officer to attend and give evidence. The Chairman of the Audit Committee will inform the Council Manager where the Committee requires an Officer or Member to attend. The Council Manager shall inform the Member or Officer in writing giving at least five working days’ notice of the meeting at which he/she is required to attend. The notice will state the nature of the item on which he/she is required to attend to give account and if there are any papers that are required to be produced for the Committee. Where the account to be given to the Committee will require the production of a report, then a Member or Officer concerned will be given sufficient notice to allow for the preparation of that documentation.

(b) Where in exceptional circumstances the Member or Officer is unable to attend on the required date, then the Committee shall in consultation with the Member or Officer, arrange an alternative date for attendance to take place within a maximum of ten days from the date of the original request.

6. Attendance by Others

The Audit Committee may invite people, other then Members and Officers, to address it.

7. Reports from the Audit Committee

(a) Once it has considered matters referred to it, the Committee may comment on whether procedures have been followed and/or make recommendations on any changes to procedures that it believes are required. The Audit Committee will prepare a formal report containing any comments and/or recommendations and submit it to the Council Manager for consideration by the appropriate Officer or Member body.

(b) If the Audit Committee cannot agree on one single final report, then one minority report may be prepared and submitted for consideration alongside the majority report.

The Council Manager shall arrange for the relevant Officer or Member body to consider the report within a reasonable time of it being submitted to him/her.