Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee
Shellharbour City Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) was established in 2010 and currently consists of three independent members (one of whom is the Chair).
The Office of Local Government has confirmed that the Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government NSW Guidelines have been approved in draft form pending the official amendment to the Local Government Regulation 2021 in early 2023.
The Local Government Regulation requires a council’s audit, risk and improvement committee to operate according to terms of reference that are consistent with the approved Model Terms of Reference.
Council has completed its review of the draft OLG guidelines and the updated ARIC Terms of Reference was adopted by Council on the 18 April 2023.
In line with the OLG Guidelines, a key role of the ARIC is to act as an independent source of advice and opinion to both the Council and the Chief Executive Officer, and to act as a forum for the resolution of any disagreements between the council and internal audit function.
The ARIC is required to independently review and advise on the following aspects of the council’s operations in accordance with Section 428A of the Local Government ACT 1993:
- compliance
- financial management
- risk management
- fraud control
- governance
- service reviews
- implementation of the strategic plan, delivery program and strategies
- collection of performance measurement data by the council, and
- any other matters prescribed by the regulation.