Terms of reference

Internal Audit was asked, following a request from Environmental Health, to examine the Authority’s interest in, and the operator’s running of, the field behind Plashetts Village Hall insofar as that field is used for overnight camping. The review is a self-examination of the Authority’s licensing, inspection, and residual duty of care. It is not an inspection of the adjoining forest estate, of Kielder Water, or of any commercially advertised camp.

• To establish the legal status of the use and whether a site licence or a documented exemption is in force.
• To record capacity, occupancy, facilities, supervision, and the condition of assets as found.
• To identify health, safety, and environmental exposures arising from the present arrangement.
• To test whether bookings, charges, insurance, and records are under adequate control.
• To report an assurance opinion and recommendations to management.

The local operator is Plashetts Parish Tourism Committee, acting with the Village Hall. The Authority’s interest is as licensing authority and as the body to which complaints, if any, would be addressed. No complaint file was open at the date of fieldwork.