Agenda item

Report CEO1221

The Sub-Committee received a summary of recent internal audit activity and commented as follows.

(a) Audit Activity - Two major audits were planned for public health on payments and contracts and commissioning – funding had been transferred to provide 40 audit days.

(b) Auditor of the Year - The Sub-Committee were impressed with the quality of audit work carried out by both nominees, but decided to award the title of Auditor of the Year to Auditor A. A small presentation ceremony would be held with the Mayor.

(c) Future of Audit Committees - The Chairman reported that he had drafted a letter to go to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), but before it was sent a commitment had been made that Audit Committees would not have to contain independent members except when appointing external auditors. This was not necessary for Bromley until 2017. The Sub-Committee suggested that this issue be considered by the Constitution Improvement Working Group, and that the Chairman should still write to the DCLG setting out Bromley’s position.

(d) Internal Audit Charter (Appendix B) - It was agreed that the reference to value for money on the second page be given greater prominence in the document.

(e) Code of Corporate Governance (Appendix C) - It was agreed that in Core Principle 1: 3 the second section be amended to read “Will consider measuring the sustainability and environmental impact of policies…” The Chairman asked officers to ensure that advantage was taken of the CIPFA benchmarking club.

(f) Raising Concerns (Whistle-Blowing Policy) (Appendix I) - The Sub-Committee agreed that the Vice-Chairman should be added to the document as a potential contact and that Councillors should be mentioned in the Policy. 

RESOLVED that

(1) The report be noted, with the comments set out above.

(2) That Auditor A be given the Auditor of the Year award.

(3) The Internal Audit Charter be approved, subject to giving greater prominence to value for money in the document.

(4) The Revised Code of Corporate Governance be approved and recommended for adoption by Council, subject to the change outlined above.

(5)  The continuing achievements of the counter fraud partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich be noted.

(6)  The revised Whistleblowing Policy be recommended to General Purposes and Licensing Committee for approval, subject to the addition of Councillors to the document and the inclusion of the Vice-Chairman’s name as set out above.