Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Audit and Risk Management to inform Members of the requirements of the Accounts and Audit (amendment) (England) Regulations 2006 and the action taken to address these.

The Head of Audit and Risk Management presented a report on the review of the effectiveness of the system of internal audit. It was reported that, in line with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2006, reciprocal peer group reviews had been established in order to monitor compliance with CIPFA standards and that the group of peers had been expanded this year to include more members across London councils. Ms Woods reported that Haringey had this year assessed and been assessed by the London Borough of Havering.

The Committee asked what the outstanding action was under the heading of performance, quality and effectiveness and Ms Woods reported that this was the CIPFA recommendation that service users’ assessment of the quality of the internal audit service be obtained. Ms Woods reported that this was in progress; a number of questions had been compiled for sending to senior managers, who would then submit their feedback as a further source of assurance regarding the effectiveness of the service.

The Committee asked where the recommendation in the management action plan, “that the Head of Audit and Risk Management should arrange to review the quality, performance and effectiveness of the service as a whole” had arisen from. Ms Woods reported that among the list of 70-80 self-assessment questions set out by CIPFA was one asking whether the service had reviewed the quality and effectiveness of the service as a whole, which had not been completed. The Committee requested a note providing the details of the actions that would be taken to address this issue and how these would be followed up.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding Regulation 6, it was confirmed that this did not differ from the existing CIPFA guidance.

RESOLVED

i)                    That the findings of the review of the effectiveness of the system of internal audit be noted.

ii)                  That the action plan to address the identified areas for development be approved, and a that note be provided on the details of the actions that would be taken to address the issues raised and how these would be followed up.