About
The purpose of the Committee is to overview local democracy and to provide the environment for the achievement of effective, transparent and accountable decision making by the Council, in addition to overseeing the conduct of elections and ensuring that the Constitution is kept up to date in line with the decisions of the Council and its committees. The Committee is responsible for governance, standards and audit matters, including monitoring complaints handling, promoting high standards of conduct by councillors, overviewing the Council's Constitution in relation to issues of standards and probity, approving the Annual Accounts, considering the effectiveness of risk management arrangements and considering the reports of external audit and inspection agencies. When exercising any of the roles or functions relating to standards, the Committee will include two parish councillors as co-opted members of the Committee, and the Independent Persons appointed by the Council in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 will be invited to attend any meeting when such business is under discussion. Further information on the Audit and Standards Committee can be found under the Terms of Reference for the Committee (part 3 of the Council’s Constitution - The Constitution) Members of the public may ask questions at the specified point in the proceedings. A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by electronic mail to the Head of Paid Service (at committeemanagers@stratford-dc.gov.uk)no later than midday two clear days before the day of the meeting. Further guidance is provided under Council Procedure Rules (part 4 of the Council’s Constitution - The Constitution) and via the Public Involvement in District Council meetings (Public Involvement in District Council Meetings) Meetings of the Audit and Standards Committee are recorded and can be found on the Stratford-on-Avon District Councils YouTube channel.