2025 REVIEW OF INTERNAL AUDIT PROCEDURES

The review should consider:

whether the scope of an audit plan is adequate and the Audit Plan Terms of Reference have been approved by Parish Council

whether the internal auditor is sufficiently independent

whether the internal auditor is sufficiently knowledgeable about parish council finance systems

whether councillors understand their responsibility to review financial controls

whether audit planning and reporting are adequate

whether the audit plan takes account of risk and has been approved by Council

Colin Underhay – Parish Clerk.


HOCKLIFFE PARISH COUNCIL – AUDIT PLAN TERMS OF REFERENCE

  1. Budget/Precept is set with due regard to Risk Assessment Plan and future developments in Hockliffe.
  2. Financial controls include every Parish Council meeting a financial report circulated, use of correct powers to make payments, proper reclaim of VAT.
  3. Annual review of grant expenditure/payments.
  4. Adequate insurance cover is provided for all activities and equipment of Parish Council responsibility.
  5. The Annual internal audit is carried out by an individual who is independent of Hockliffe Parish Council but familiar with parish council procedures and in line with requirements as set by the Audit Commission. The individual is to be varied from time to time. The internal auditor appointed for the 2024/5 audit is Lizzie Barnicoat (Resolution at February 2025 Parish Council Meeting).

Recommendations of internal and external auditors are considered by the Council.

The internal audit system is to be reviewed annually.

Resources are made available for internal audit.


HOCKLIFFE PARISH COUNCIL – AUDIT PLAN 2025/26

  1. Thorough review of Council expenditure to enable the setting of the precept.>
  2. The Clerk will continue to produce transaction statements every Parish Council meeting, indicating section 137 payments in Council minutes and reclaiming VAT annually.
  3. The Council is to review public liability, assets, libel, slander, and the Clerk’s fidelity annually before the insurance premium renewal.
  4. Annual internal audit to be carried out by an individual who is independent of Hockliffe Parish Council and familiar with the workings of a Parish Council.
  5. Recommendations of internal and external auditors to be considered by Council when received.
  6. The Internal audit system is to be reviewed annually.
  7. £380 allocated for internal and external audit fees (for 2024/25 audit).

Resolved at Parish Council Meeting 10th  March 2025