3.7 The internal auditor shall be appointed by Full Council and shall carry out their work to evaluate the effectiveness of the Council's risk management, control and governance processes in accordance with proper practices specified in the Practitioners' Guide.

3.8 The Council shall ensure that the internal auditor:

• is competent and independent of the financial operations of the Council;
• reports to Full Council in writing, or in person, on a regular basis with a minimum of one written report during each financial year;
• can demonstrate competence, objectivity and independence, free from any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, including those arising from family relationships; and
• has no involvement in the management or control of the Council

3.9 Internal or external auditors may not under any circumstances:

• perform any operational duties for the Council;
• initiate or approve accounting transactions;
• provide financial, legal or other advice including in relation to any future transactions; or
• direct the activities of any Council employee, except to the extent that such employees have been appropriately assigned to assist the internal auditor.

3.10 For the avoidance of doubt, in relation to internal audit the terms ‘independent’ and ‘independence’ shall have the same meaning as described in The Practitioners Guide.

3.11 The RFO shall make arrangements for the exercise of electors' rights in relation to the accounts, including the opportunity to inspect the accounts, books, and vouchers and display or publish any notices and documents required by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, or any superseding legislation, and the Accounts and Audit Regulations.

3.12 The RFO shall, without undue delay, bring to the attention of all Councillors any correspondence or report from internal or external auditors, unless the correspondence is routine and administrative in nature.

4. BUDGET & PRECPT

4.1 Before setting a precept, the Council must calculate its Council tax requirement for each financial year by preparing and approving a budget, in accordance with The Local Government Finance Act 1992 or succeeding legislation.

4.2 Budgets for salaries and wages, including employer contributions shall be reviewed by the Council at least annually in October/November for the following financial year and the final