Issue - meetings

The General Purposes Committee is recommended to note the work completed by the Audit and Risk Management Service during the period 1 April 2022 to 30 November 2022 and the key themes and outcomes arising from this work.

The General Purposes Committee  were asked to note the work completed by the Audit and Risk Management Service during the period 1 April 2022 to 30 November 2022 and the key themes and outcomes arising from this work.

The Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management assured Members that although records in relation to the charges invoiced for CCTV for notice processing and cashless parking had not been evidenced for two or three years, robust processes had been put in place and testing was due to be conducted at the end of January 2023. A more robust Procurement Team had given added value to the work undertaken around contract procedure rules. The effect of which value was being seen across the organisation.     The Annual Report on Procurement would be brought to Committee in June 2023 which would provide further details.            

The Committee acknowledged that staff did change over time and expressed concern that rigorous control systems had not been in place and requested evidence that the control system had changed be reported back to the Committee, together with assurance of the existing processes regarding checks and processes.                                                                       

The Executive Director Resources reassured the Committee that the challenges put by the Assurance Board to the Head of an under preforming service were very demanding and Senior Officers had to provide detailed explanations and solutions when a service area was not performing as expected. It was right and proper for Officers to be called to account and challenged by the Assurance Board Members.

It was noted that the number of overdue audits for the Place and Resources Departments, were significantly high when compared with other Departments. Members requested that the Committee be provided with further details with regards to the overdue audits, particularly with regard to the number of overdue high-risk actions.                                                                              

AGREED that the report be NOTED.

The Audit and Risk Management Service Progress Update summarises the results of the work undertaken during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 August 2022 and the continued work to target limited audit resources at the highest priority Corporate and Schools’ services.

The report was introduced by Gemma Young (Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management. The report summarised the results of the work undertaken during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 August 2022 and the continued work to target limited audit resources at the highest priority Corporate and Schools’ services.

Members noted with concern the improvements and actions taken regarding the results of the completed audit in relation to CR09 – Cross Cutting – Corporate Health and Safety Board which had a limited assurance level. However, members were reassured that the Corporate Health and Safety Board now reports into the Assurance Board, chaired by the Chief Executive.

Officers advised Members, who had also expressed concerns regarding the continued delays regarding the Community Infrastructure Levy referred to in Appendix B: Overdue High-Risk Actions, that the Assurance Board were actively discussing and progressing this particular audit to ensure the actions were completed expeditiously.

AGREED that the work completed by the Audit and Risk Management Service during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 August 2022 and the key themes and outcomes arising from this work be noted.