Agenda item

FSD21029

The Committee was informed that Internal Audit was nearing the end of dealing with restart grants. Staff dealing with the ARG grants were being given training and access to the NFI database to carry out the required checks around grant payments. For the next Committee, it was likely that reports would follow regarding GDPR, Creditors and Housing Benefit. An update was provided regarding the Leavers’ process, which was a matter that had previously been referred to the Chief Executive.  A Team was leading on this issue and it was now the case that the recommendations had been mostly implemented.

Members were updated regarding the follow up audit for St Olave’s School. Most of the previous recommendations had now been implemented and so the assurance level had been raised from ‘Limited’ to ‘Reasonable’. Internal Audit had noted some issues around the way that contracts had been procured in that in some cases it seemed that there had been inadequate planning and preparation before going out to tender.

It was noted that one duplicate claim had been spotted during the audit of the Troubled Families Claim. 

An update was provided with respect to the follow up audit concerning Highways. There had previously been three priority one recommendations, one of which had been implemented and two of which still needed to be followed up and addressed. The Internal Audit Team had sought documented proof that the other two priority one recommendations were being implemented. As at the date of the meeting, this confirmation had not been uploaded to the system and so those remaining recommendations were still not able to be closed. It was acknowledged that one of the key officers involved with respect to Highways had been required to oversee responsibility for the Vaccination Centre. The Head of Audit and Assurance stated that a follow up report with respect to Highways would be presented at the next meeting of the Committee.

Members received an update concerning risk management and it was noted that all of the Council’s risk registers for all of the relevant departments and portfolios had been incorporated into the agenda papers. The risk management process had been operating well remotely.

The Committee was briefed concerning waivers, and the relevant data concerning waivers had been incorporated into the agenda pack;  this had been produced by the Assistant Director for Governance and Contracts.

An update was provided with respect to the Redmond Review and it was noted that the Government had decided not to establish a new oversight body. Instead, a new body was already in the process of being established and this was the Audit Reporting and Governance Authority. This authority was going to replace the Financial Reporting Council and would now include the additional responsibilities relating to local government audit.

Regarding the Leavers’ process, a Member asked if any deficiencies in this regard had had an adverse effect on the pension fund or on pay. The Head of Audit and Assurance responded that the people who had left the employment of the Council had been notified to HR and as far as he was aware there had been no adverse effect on the pension fund or on pay. The deficiencies in the Leavers’ process had more to do with the return of IT equipment, phones and purchasing cards and removing access to systems. It was noted that in the future there would be an audit of payments and pension and this would be considered.

At this point two announcements were made. The first announcement was that this would be Councillor Reddin’s last year as a Councillor and as the Chairman of the Audit Sub Committee. The second announcement was that the Head of Audit and Assurance (Mr. David Hogan) was planning to retire. He had agreed with the Director of Finance to stay on until a replacement was found and a handover was completed. The Chairman and the Committee expressed their many thanks to Mr Hogan for his excellent work for the Council and the Committee.

RESOLVED that:

1) The Internal Audit Progress report be noted.

2) The Internal Audit reports published on the Council’s website be noted.