Centre for Governance and Scrutiny issues report on audit, scrutiny and risk

The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) has issued a publication intended to support members of council audit committees, and members of council scrutiny committees, to understand the key elements of risk management, and the questions that can be asked of other members and officers at the council to bring challenge and support to risk management practice.

CfGS said the report would also help these committee members:

• understand the specific roles of the audit committee, and of scrutiny committees, in challenge and support relating to risk management; and
• develop a blueprint for the collaboration between audit and scrutiny functions, “to ensure a seamless and consistent approach to member oversight in this area”.

The report, Audit, Scrutiny and Risk, covers:

1. What is risk?
2. The respective roles of audit and scrutiny.
3. A practical model for joint working.
4. Questions for members to ask that relate to specific areas of risk management.

The report can be viewed here.