Agenda item

This report gives details of the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the internal auditor.

The Committee received reports from the Head of Finance Shared Services and the Shared Internal Audit Service.

Following a comment from the Portfolio Holder regarding the reduction in recommendations, the Audit Manager advised that he was unable to comment on the information prior to the Shared Internal Audit Service taking on the audit role for the Council.  He stated that the service worked closely with its partners.  The number of recommendations was similar across all the authorities audited by the shared service.

Councillor Taylor asked for an explanation why the Council had not been able to meet the government legislation in respect of security settings on mobile device handsets.

The ICT Client Manager explained that the original deadline had been earlier than included in the report.  The Public Services Network (PSN) directives had been and continued to be unclear in a number of areas including mobile devices.  The revised deadline had been requested to enable the service to meet the compliance requirements for 2014.  It had already been included as part of the work for the current year.  She advised that this had also included access to the Council’s systems via Appgate from home computers.

Councillor Brandon enquired about the short-listing of applicants by Housing Associations and how they were different from the Council’s good practices.  This could have an impact on housing clients.

The Audit Manager explained that he did not have that information available at the meeting and would circulate it to the Committee at a later date.

In response to Councillor Brandon’s comments about the section on the Veolia contract, the Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services stated that it had been included on the Audit Plan at an early stage of the contract and the client team being formed.  This had enabled the service to be given a steer by Internal Audit.  She said that she had been pleased with the score, particularly for such a new service.  The recommendations had not been marked as high priorities.  The service was close to completing two of the recommendations and the other five were not yet due.  A workshop was being arranged with Veolia to discuss each organisation’s risks and to compile a shared risk register. 

The Audit Manager confirmed that the report had provided the Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services’ team with a direction of travel and identified any gaps in service.

Following a question from Councillor Khan about the inclusion of taxi licensing, the Audit Manager explained that this had not been included in the original Audit Plan for 2013/14.  The audit service had been asked to investigate allegations. 

The Head of Finance Shared Services added that this was recorded as an activity.  The initial investigations had been carried out by the Shared Internal Audit Service, who had then passed the case to the Fraud team.  Further information would be included in the Annual Fraud report which the Committee would receive in June.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the Internal Audit Progress Report against the 2013/14 Audit Plan be noted. 

2.      that the amendments to the Audit Plan as at 21 February 2014 be approved. 

3.      that the removal of implemented recommendations, included in Appendix 3, be agreed.

4.      that the changes to the implementation date for 6 recommendations (paragraph 2.6) for the reasons set out in Appendix 3 be agreed.

5.      that the Audit Manager circulates information on the differences of how Housing Associations shortlist applicants in comparison to the Council.