Issue - meetings
Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud Progress Report
Meeting: 31/01/2019 - Audit Committee (Item 5)
5 Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud Progress Report PDF 136 KB
Minutes:
Mr Steven Tinkler, Interim Head of Audit and Risk Management, introduced this report stating the report provided an update on the progress made against the delivery of the 2018-19 Annual Audit Plan, as well as the current counter fraud performance and audits which have received limited assurance ratings.
Mr Tinkler highlighted to the Committee that the Council had appointed BDO to support the delivery of the 18/19 audit plan. BDO would specifically be concentrating on the delivery of school, specialist ICT and system related audits.
In particular Mr Tinkler referred members to paragraph 4.8 of the report and stated the internal audit team had been commissioned by the Chief Executive to provide a lesson’s learnt report on the recent move of Tower Hamlets Homes to Boatman House.
Mr Tony Qayum referred Members to the tabled information in paragraph 5.2 of the report as well as paragraphs 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5.of the report. Mr Qayum said the Cabinet Office data matches as part of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) had just been received and officers within his team would be working through approximately 25,000 matches.
In response to questions from Members the following was noted:
o ACTION: It would be useful for new Members of the Committee to receive a presentation on the National Fraud Initiative.
o ACTION: Can a report be provided on the progress made by those services areas who reported a limited assurance and have attended before this Committee.
· Mr Tony Qayum stated the council had raised awareness in relation to Social Housing Fraud and would continue to work with the Communications team to this end. Mr Qayum also confirmed the team had retrieved 45 homes which had been fraudulently let and were on target to achieve 50 homes by the end of the financial year.
· Mr Qayum confirmed referrals to the anti-fraud team come via various channels including referrals from Tower Hamlets Homes. Mr Qayum said he expected a spike in identifying new cases, especially as the NFI match results would need to be further investigated.
· Mr Qayum confirmed other social landlords, other than Tower Hamlets Homes were included in the figures. Mr Qayum said the RSL have trained investigators who operate in a similar way to the Council’s team.
· Mr Qayum also asked Members to note a correction at 5.2 and said the Right to buy figure should state 10 rather than 107.
Members of the Committee also heard from each Service Area Director where a limited assurance had been given.
Framework-i
Mr David Jones. Interim Divisional Director for Adult Social Care stated the issues highlighted in the internal Audit report had been responded to by way of an action plan which was finalised at the beginning of January 2019.
He said teams within Adult Social Care were in a process of restructure with the aim of bringing together the brokerage and integrated social work teams plus the commissioning teams. He said work was ongoing to improve the workflow and processes in place. With ... view the full minutes text for item 5