Strategic Objective 5: Responsible Corporate Governance

Responsible corporate governance will ensure the prudent management of Council's finances and assets to achieve long-term financial sustainability, the support and development of Council staff and Councillors and the provision of accountable, community focused services.

5.1 Corporate Governance

• Audit Committee 2008/2009
• Strategic Procurement
• Freedom of Information
• Decision Making Powers
• Local Laws
• Information Available for Inspection
• Information Privacy
• Whistleblowers' Protection Procedures
• Occupational Health & Safety

Audit Committee 2008/2009

The role of the Audit Committee is to provide an overview of the Council's controls over its financial and management systems. This is not a decisionmaking forum, but rather performs a review function.

On occasions the Committee may refer matters to the Council for decision.

The Chief Executive and internal auditor were present at all Audit Committee meetings which where held on a quarterly basis. Council's Internal Auditor was PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), appointed following a competitive tendering process for a three-year period (July 2008 to June 2011). On appointment, PwC performed a risk assessment of Council's operations and recommended a three-year audit program to cover these aspects. The Audit Committee recommended the Internal Audit work program for a three-year period to the Council for adoption, and receives reports from the Internal Auditor at each meeting.

The external auditor is the Victorian Auditor General who appointed the accounting firm HLB Mann Judd to conduct the annual statutory audit on his behalf. The Audit Committee reviewed the Annual Financial Statements and responses from officers in respect of matters raised by the annual statutory audit and monitored the progress of the officers in dealing with these items.

• Information Technology Controls
• Cash Collection
• Stakeholder Management
• Contracts - Oakleigh Recreation Centre Tender
• Financial Transaction Analysis
• Non-Rates Revenue Management

Strategic Procurement

In August 2008, amendments to the Local Government (General) Regulations 2004 were made to the 'public tender threshold' to recognize the increase in costs faced by local government. The amendment to S186 of the Local Government Act requires a competitive process be conducted for goods and services over $150k and for construction over $200k.

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Updated: 22 October 2009

[ Up: Annual Report  |   Forward: Freedom of Information ]

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