Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor
Forster -
It is resolved that Council:
(A) note the Office of Local Government is currently developing the supporting regulatory and policy framework for internal audit and hopes to issue a detailed discussion paper on this later this year which will guide the operations of existing Audit and Risk Committees. All Councils will be required to appoint a committee by March 2021;
(B) note Objective 3 of the City of Sydney Code of Meeting Practice: to "ensure that all Councillors have an equal opportunity to participate in the meeting to the fullest extent possible";
(C) note clause 7.4 of the Code of Conduct "Members of staff of council who provide any information to a particular councillor in the performance of their civic duties must also make it available to any other councillor who requests it and in accordance with council procedures";
(D) commence steps to review the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Charter; and
(E) immediately make the following amendments to the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Charter to ensure consistency throughout the Council's governance procedures:
(i)
Minutes and papers
Meeting agendas will be prepared and provided to members and all Councillors at least one week before each meeting, along with appropriate briefing materials. Minutes shall be approved by the Chairperson and circulated to each member within three weeks of the meeting being held.
(ii)
Membership
Composition
Members of the Committee will be selected by the Lord Mayor appointed by the Council in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer. Employees of the City cannot be members of the Committee.
(iii) Access
Committee members and all Councillors will at all times have free and unfettered access to the internal auditor, external auditors, senior management, the risk management function and vice versa.
(iv) Meetings
Closed sessions
Closed sessions may be held at the request of the Committee to discuss specific issues. Relevant staff will be invited by the Committee to attend. Councillors may attend closed sessions.
Minutes and confidential briefings of
proceedings during closed sessions must be provided to all Councillors.
Note. The above motion was not
carried. The resolution as follows was carried.
It is resolved that Council:
(A) note that:
(i) the City of Sydney has a strong and effective Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee; and
(ii) Councillors are provided with access to the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee agenda papers and can attend meetings;
(B) thank and commend the independent members of the committee, Chair Elizabeth Crouch, Carolyn Walsh and Ken Barker for their commitment and work;
(C) note that:
(i) in December 2016, the State Government amended the Local Government Act to require all NSW councils to have a "Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee" and that this section of the Act has not yet come into force; and
(ii) the Office of Local Government intends to issue new guidelines for local government "Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee" ahead of the provisions coming into force; and
(D) request the Chief Executive Officer to review the City's Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Charter once the Office of Local Government releases new guidelines or a discussion paper.
Motion carried.
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