Annual Report 2018-19

Audit and Risk Committee                                          • Review compliance with Council policies and
                                                                    procedures, legislative requirements and
In accordance with Subdivision 2 of the LG Regulation,              regulations; and
Council conducts Audit and Risk Committee meetings to             • Provide outcomes that will generally improve
promote good corporate governance through the provision             practices across Council.
of independent comment, advice and counsel on audit
and risk management issues covering a wide range of            Council’s Internal Audit Plan for each financial year is
Council operations and projects.                               developed having regard to current operational risks
                                                               and is reviewed and adopted by the Audit and Risk
In accordance with Council’s Audit and Risk Committee          Committee. Council’s internal audits are conducted
Charter, a key duty of the Committee is to provide             in accordance with Council’s Internal Audit Terms of
reasonable assurance to Council that its core business         Reference and Internal Audit Policy.
goals and objectives are being achieved in an efficient
and economical manner, within an appropriate framework         The Internal Audit activities for the period included a
of internal control and risk management.                       review of the following:
                                                                  • Business Continuity Framework;
The Audit and Risk Committee comprises of two
Councillor members and two expert independent external            • Overtime Management; and
members, who hold a minimum of four formal committee              • Risk Management Framework and Practices.
meetings each year. The Audit and Risk Committee
observed the terms of its Charter for the period and           The above audits were undertaken by specialist external
conducted an annual assessment of its performance.             providers. Council has in place a number of systems and
                                                               processes to ensure that recommendations resulting
                                                               from its internal audits are appropriately actioned and
Internal Audit                                                 implemented into day-to-day operations.
Under section 105 of the LG Act, Council has established
an efficient and effective internal audit function that will   Grants
provide independent, objective assurance and appropriate
services designed to add value and improve Council’s           Council provides a range of services to assist not-for-profit
operations.                                                    (volunteer) organisations to meet community needs.

On 20 December 2018, Council updated and endorsed              Council’s grants for the period were managed in
the Internal Audit Policy (previously endorsed in              accordance with Council’s Community Grants Policy
November 2014) which provides the framework for the            which was endorsed by Council in December 2016 and
conduct of the internal audit function of Council and has      Council’s Economic Development Grants Policy which
been endorsed by the Audit and Risk Committee.                 was endorsed by Council in November 2017.

The Policy seeks to achieve the following outcomes in          The Community Grants Policy does not apply to
undertaking the annual audit plan set by the Audit and         sponsorships, donations, advertising, naming rights and
Risk Committee:                                                service level agreements. The outcomes of this Policy
                                                               include:
   • Assess and evaluate Council’s processes,
     procedures and internal control environment to               • Providing community organisations and individuals
     assist with the management of operational risks;               (for Regional Arts Development Funds only) with
                                                                    financial support to meet identified community
   • Appraise the relevance, reliability and integrity of           needs;
     management, business systems, financial and
     operating records and reports;                               • Building community skills and resilience;
   • Assist the Chief Executive Officer and Council               • Developing and maintaining sustainable community
     in the effective discharge of their responsibilities           infrastructure;
     by providing them with analyses, appraisals,
     recommendations and information concerning the               • Providing opportunities for community
     activities reviewed;                                           organisations to leverage Council’s financial
                                                                    assistance to obtain funding from other sources;
                                                                    and



Noosa Council | 2018/2019 Annual Report                                                                           Page 35