Issue - meetings
Quarterly Monitoring Report
Meeting: 15/12/2009 - Audit Committee (Item 6)
6 Quarterly Internal Audit Assurance Report September 2009 - November 2009 (AC/001/09) PDF 200 KB
To note the contents of the report and to take account of the assurance opinion assigned to the systems reviewed during the period.
Minutes:
Mr Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management) introduced the report and explained the four assurance ratings assigned to each area audited for the benefit of the Committee.
Mr Jani reported that the percentage of priority 2 recommendations implemented at the follow stage was 71% but the target was 95% and reaching this was a key aim. Corporate wide action had been taken to improve this score. It was anticipated that this would have the desired effect.
In reply to a question from Councillor Haque, Mr Jani reported that all of the recommendations not implemented were submitted to and discussed with the Corporate Directors and this enabled them to considered with Audit what needed to be done.
It was RESOLVED that a progress report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee (highlighting progress in reaching the targets). It was also RESOLVED that where no progress had been made, the Corporate Director be asked to submit a written response explaining the reasons for the lack of progress.
ACTION BY: Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management)
(a) Management of Major Works – Systems Audit - Limited (Extensive Assurance)
Mr Jani reported on the reasons why the above had been assigned a limited assurance. Overall it was considered that the systems of control for recovering outstanding arrears and debt recovery needed to be strengthened. Mr Jani welcomed to the meeting Ms Jackie Odunoye (Service Head Strategy - Innovation & Sustainability) and Sayeed Kadir (Director of Tower Hamlets Homes).
The officers reported the following points:
- Ms Odunoye reported that since the fieldwork had been completed a considerable amount of progress had been made. The Council and Tower Hamlets Homes had implemented a major Leaseholder Improvement Programme and had submitted a report to the Corporate Management Team on leaseholder service charges.
- The contract framework had been re tendered. There was also specific/individual contract tendering to improve performance and progress had been made in bringing the contractors final accounts up to date. The final accounts were updated on a monthly basis.
- As part of the Leaseholder Improvement Plan, consideration would be given to putting fees against properties.
- The Tower Hamlets Homes Board received regular reports where debt recovery and collection was covered in a significant way.
- Mr Kadir reported that the contacts for major works had been re tendered as a result they were now more cost efficient.
- Where there was a legal issue that could not be resolved and it was not possible to implement the final certification, time limits would be put on cases to force completion. The key target was to complete work on time and the Staff Performance Development Reviews would focus on this. There was also proactive recovery letters, and action to encourage the use of direct debit. Last month (November 2009) the target for recovery had been exceeded. The sum receovered was £1.4 million representing the services best performance in three years. The target for this month was £1 million as of today (15th December 2009) the service ... view the full minutes text for item 6
Meeting: 29/09/2009 - Audit Committee (Item 7)
7 Quarterly Internal Audit Assurance Report April 2009 - August 2009 PDF 284 KB
To note the contents of the report and to take account of the assurance opinion assigned to the systems reviewed during the period.
Minutes:
Mr Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management & Audit) presented the report which summarised the work of Internal Audit for the period April 2009 to August 2009. The Committee was asked to note the contents of the report and to take account of the assurance opinion assigned to the systems reviewed during the period.
In relation to the assurances assigned to Children’s Services, Councillor Eaton sought assurances on the effectiveness of the measures in place for safeguarding children.
In reply Ms Kate Bingham (Acting Service Head, Resources, Children’s and Families Services) reported that OFSTED had assessed the Children Looked After Service and had judged it as outstanding. She expressed certainty that the targets for visits had been met and were communicated to those responsible for carrying out the visits.
Resolved: That the contents of the report and the assurance opinion assigned to the systems reviewed during the period be noted.
ACTION BY: Chris Naylor (Corporate Director Resources)
Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management)