Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Audit and Risk Management to inform the Audit Committee of the work undertaken during the first quarter by the Internal Audit Service in completing the annual audit plan and any responsive fraud investigation work. In addition, the work of the Council’s personnel division in supporting disciplinary action taken across all departments by respective council managers.

Anne Woods, Head of Audit and Risk Management, presented the Internal Audit progress report for the first quarter of 2009/10, and advised the Committee that 80% of the planned Internal Audit programme for quarter 1 had been completed. Ms Woods reported that no new referrals for investigations had been received during quarter 1, but a number had been submitted in the first 3 weeks of quarter 2. Work was being carried out to ensure that nominated officers were fully trained for the National Fraud Initiative, as a number of new areas had been introduced, including parking, freedom passes, blue badges and care homes.

The Chair advised the Committee that the revised deadlines for the implementation of audit recommendations in the report had been revised with the agreement of the Chair, on the basis of advice from the Chief Financial Officer. The Chair confirmed that these deadlines were final, and would not be extended any further. Any failure to meet the final deadlines would necessitate the attendance of the relevant Head of Service at the subsequent meeting of the Audit Committee to explain to the Committee why the deadline had not been met, in accordance with the decision previously made by the Committee.  

The Committee welcomed the full assurance level given to Pension Fund Investment, and asked why some other areas had only been given an assurance level of substantial, even when no recommendations had been made. Ms Woods reported that, where further improvement could be made but this was already covered by existing action plans, no further recommendations were made, to avoid duplication. The Chair expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the implementation of outstanding priority 1 recommendations, and expressed thanks to officers for this achievement.

RESOLVED

i)                    That the audit coverage and progress during the first quarter 2009/10 be noted.

ii)                  That the progress and responses received in respect of outstanding audit recommendations, and the fact that any failure to comply with the final revised deadlines for implementation would require the appropriate Head of Service to attend a meeting of the Committee to explain the reasons for this, be noted.