Minutes

Minutes of the Audit Panel of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 27 May 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, Westminster, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Sir John Quinton (Chair)
• Diana Johnson

MPA officers

• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• Peter Tickner (Director, Internal Audit)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Keith Luck (Director of Resources)
• Terry Price (Head of Corporate Finance)

Also attended

• Kash Pandya (District Auditor)
• Jon Hayes (Audit Manager)

Part 1

21. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Eric Ollerenshaw and Rachel Whittaker.

22. Declarations of interests

No declarations were made.

23. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2004

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the meeting held on 22 March be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

24. Chair and members update

(Agenda item 4)

No reports were submitted.

25. Audit Panel annual report for 2003/04

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which summarised the work of the Audit Panel for the year 2003/04. The Chair commented that this was likely to be the final meeting of the Panel in its present guise. The District Auditor said he welcomed the intention of the MPA to extend the remit of the Audit Panel to cover risk management.

Resolved – That the annual report be noted.

26. Appointment of external auditors

(Agenda item 6)

A report was considered concerning a notification of a change in the District Auditor appointed as the Authority’s external auditor. The Treasurer stated that a reply was awaited in response to his letter of 13 May to the Audit Commission. The District Auditor stated that as far as he knew all the District Audit appointments were being made for a two year term.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

27. Internal audit annual report 2003/04

(Agenda item 7)

The draft annual report of the Director of Internal Audit was submitted for approval to submission to the Authority. The report gave the opinion of the Director of Internal Audit on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control within the MPS. The Treasurer drew attention to the continuing improvement in the performance of Internal Audit and the improving trend in the adequacy of internal control within the MPS. The Director of Internal Audit explained that although the report was in draft it was likely that the changes in the final version would be limited to finalising the data in paragraphs 41 to 44. It was intended that the final version be circulated to members of the existing Authority.

Resolved – That the annual report be approved for circulating in final form to all members of the MPA.

28. External audit plan 2004/05

(Agenda item 8)

The proposed external audit plan for 2004/05 was submitted for comment.

The District Auditor explained that the table of the audit team on page 5 should be amended to reflect the fact that during the course of the audit plan Mike Haworth-Maden would succeed him.

Resolved – That the audit plan be noted.

29. External audit plans 2002/03 and 2003/04 progress reports

(Agenda item 9)

A table was submitted which lists the work undertaken as per the audit plans for 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Resolved – That the report be noted. 30. Internal audit 2004/05 progress report (Agenda item 10)

The Director of Internal Audit said he was pleased to be able to report that work had commenced on the plan for 2004/05.

Resolved – That the oral report be noted.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Director of Internal Audit referred to the fact this had been the final meeting of the Audit Panel at which Sir John Quinton would be acting as Chair. The Director said it had been a privilege to work closely with Sir John for several years including a period before the inception of the MPA and it gave him great pleasure to present him with a gift as a token of gratitude and to show the esteem in which he was held in the Department. On behalf of the MPS, the Director of Resources also thanked Sir John for his support and encouragement.

Sir John returned thanks.

The meeting ended at 3.05 p.m.

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