The Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2016

PART 4 Audit committees

Audit committees

14.—(1) In appointing members to an audit committee a combined authority must ensure that the members of the committee taken as a whole reflect so far as reasonably practicable the balance of political parties for the time being prevailing among members of the constituent councils when taken together.

(2) An audit committee appointed by the combined authority may not include any officer of the combined authority or of a constituent council.

(3) A combined authority must appoint to an audit committee at least one independent person.

(4) For the purposes of appointments under paragraph (3), a person is independent if the person—

(a) is not a member, co-opted member or officer of the authority;

(b) is not a member, co-opted member or officer of a parish council for which the authority is the principal authority;

(c) is not a relative, or close friend, of a person within sub-paragraph (a) or (b); and

(d) was not at any time during the 5 years ending with an appointment under paragraph (3) —

(i) a member, co-opted member or officer of the authority; or

(ii) a member, co-opted member or officer of a parish council for which the authority is the principal authority.

(5) A person may not be appointed under paragraph (3) unless—

(a) the vacancy for the audit committee has been advertised in such manner as the combined authority considers is likely to bring it to the attention of the public;

(b) the person has submitted to the combined authority an application to fill the vacancy, and

(c) the person’s appointment has been approved by a majority of the members of the combined authority.

(6) A person appointed under paragraph (3) does not cease to be independent as a result of being paid any amounts by way of allowances or expenses in connection with performing the duties of the appointment.

(7) The combined authority must determine a minimum number of members required to be present at a meeting of the audit committee before business may be transacted, to be no fewer than two-thirds of the total number of members of the audit committee.