35 Internal Audit Progress Report 2018-19 (00:31:00) PDF 527 KB
To receive a report from the Head of the Devon Audit Partnership monitoring the progress and performance of Internal Audit.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Head of the Devon Audit Partnership reviewing the progress and performance of Internal Audit.
The following was highlighted within the report:
· No major issues had been identified within the core audits.
· Risk based audits had identified that effective controls were operating.
· A new service was available to provide assurance in the counter fraud area.
· Positive feedback had been received from audit clients in regard to audits that had taken place.
· 85% of the audit plan would still be delivered despite a key member of staff being on maternity leave for the first half of the year, there would be an opportunity to catch up when the member of staff returned to work in November. The Committee were reassured that all audits in the highest risk areas would be completed.
Discussion took place regarding:
· The Waste Management area was performing well in terms of achieving income targets however, whilst the chargeable garden waste scheme currently operated adequately there were some areas of the administrative process that required improvement to ensure greater efficiency.
· It was noted that the controls around the recruitment and selection policy were generally working well.
· It was also noted that the Corporate Equality Forum had not met for some time, however, the Group Manager for Performance, Governance and Data Security informed the Committee that she had already had a meeting with the Communications Manager and was due to attend the Equality Forum at Devon County Council in November.
· It was noted that the number of completed audit recommendations had risen from 67% to 75%.
· The long overdue recommendation in relation to ‘Standby’ would be dealt with as a matter of urgency and the Chairman was confident it would not appear at the next meeting.
· Whilst the year indicated for the Development Management S106 outstanding recommendation was stated as 2017 the Chairman stated that this audit had not been reported to the Audit Committee until May 2018 therefore the length of time this ’appeared’ to be outstanding was misleading.
· The Deputy Head of the Audit Partnership was complimented on the style and format of the report.
Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.