Audit and Risk Committee

Promoting accountability and the proper use of public funds in NatureScot is part of the Committee’s remit.

The full remit of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) is to:

help promote the highest standards in the use of public funds and encourage proper accountability for the use of funds and resources
promote the development of NatureScot arrangements to attain our objectives and targets
promote the development of NatureScot arrangements for corporate governance, including risk management, and to advise the Board

Among other tasks, the Committee must:

ensure our internal audit plans comply with Public Sector Internal Audit Standards
review the annual report prepared by the Head of Internal Audit, to confirm that our internal control system is adequate
consider reports by Audit Scotland on our annual accounts or other matters such as how well we achieve value for money
ensure we meet any statutory requirements for the use of public funds
ensure we make the most economic and effective use of resources

Audit and Risk Committee Terms of Reference

ARC Meeting Dates for 2020:

06 February 2020 - Agenda and papers
13 May 2020 - Agenda and papers
29 July 2020
20 August 2020
05 November 2020

ARC meetings

Five meetings are held each year in Silvan House, Edinburgh. The Committee may also meet at other times, as necessary.

Meetings are attended by our:

Accountable Officer (Chief Executive)
Principal Finance Officer
Head of Internal Audit
other staff, as appropriate

Audit Scotland is usually invited to meetings and can ask at least once a year to meet the Committee in private. Members of the public may attend open session meetings of the ARC as observers.

The Committee reports to our Board after each meeting – on health and safety, risk management and any other issues relating to the ARC remit.