The Head of the Regional Internal Audit Service presented a report, in order to set out the skills & knowledge self-assessment questionnaire feedback provided by Government and Audit Committee Members to inform the development of a learning and development plan for the Committee.

Following the report’s background information, he advised that the Governance and Audit Committee members were requested to consider ten statements and to indicate whether their level of knowledge / experience was either ‘good ‘, ‘satisfactory’ or ‘little’ knowledge in relation to each.

Paragraph 4.3 of the report, gave some feedback on the results of this.

The results indicated that Governance and Audit Committee members have an overall sound base of knowledge and experience in the areas of responsibility for this Committee.

The questionnaire also asked Governance and Audit Committee members to indicate what knowledge and skills they had which will add value to the work of the Governance and Audit Committee.

The table in paragraph 4.6 of the report, provided a summary of the feedback received in respect of areas of knowledge/skills. The feedback indicated that there is experience and knowledge, at varying levels, across all key areas.

The Self-Assessment Questionnaire was attached at Appendix A to the report, while the responses from the ten returned questionnaires were at Appendix B and were summarised in the covering report.

With the agreement of Members, it was suggested Officers would draft a learning and development plan for reporting to the next meeting for review and, if deemed appropriate, sign off which would include risk management and counter fraud.

The Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change stated that there was a Member training session on Treasury Management arranged in February for Members including lay members of the Committee.

The Chairperson stated that if there were issues around risk management , counter fraud or any of the other areas relayed by the Head of the Regional Internal Audit Service, he invited Members to bring them to his attention.

RESOLVED :     (1) That the members of the Governance And Audit Committee reviewed the self-assessment questionnaire feedback information and discussed  the learning and development areas required.

(2) That Officers draft a learning and development plan  reflecting the views of the Committee.