Issue - meetings
Internal Audit Annual Report 2008/09
Meeting: 29/09/2009 - Audit Committee (Item 7)
Internal Audit Annual Report 2008/09
Minutes:
Mr Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management & Audit) presented the report, drawing attention to the significant issues. The report was deferred at the last meeting of the Committee in June 2009.
The Audit Committee was asked to note the contents of the annual audit report and the summary of the audits undertaken. Overall Mr Jani reported that he was able to award a substantial level of assurance to the systems reviewed over the period.
Mr Jani reported that Audit Services had recently participated in a CIPFA benchmarking exercise and had also participated in a Peer Group Review with the London Borough of Redbridge.
In relation to a question about the Homelessness services audit, Mr Jani reported that this area had been assigned a substantial level of assurance as it was delivering its key objectives. However the issues around the lack of guidance for assessments would be addressed and given further consideration in future audits.
In relation to payroll, the Committee noted the need to ensure the systems of control in payroll were strengthened and that their records were kept up date.
In relation to the schools assigned nil assurance, the Committee questioned whether there were any common problems and whether additional training would help. Mr Jani confirmed that there were a number of generic issues and that a fuller report was being prepared by Audit and Children and Families Services which would capture the key issues and would be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.
Mr Mike Clarkson (Deloitte & Tauche) confirmed that the standards for full assurance were very high but the Council’s scores compared favourable to those achieved by other Boroughs.
Ms Kayren White (Interim Head of HR Adults Health and Wellbeing) presented a progress report on the sickness management follow audit which had been assigned a nil assurance rating in January 2009. Ms White reported on progress against the recommendations. Following the Audit, the then Corporate Director for Adults Health and Wellbeing wrote to all staff setting out the policy and monthly sickness absence monitoring reports were submitted to the Corporate Management Team. Ms White reported that her service now implemented a range of new measures including data cleansing exercises to ensure sickness data was accurately recorded on time. Mr Naylor (Corporate, Director Resources) reported that the recommendations were performance managed and were being escalated to the Directors.
Resolved: That the content of the annual audit report, the summary of audits undertaken which have not been previously reported and the Head of Audit opinion be noted.
ACTION BY: Chris Naylor (Corporate Director Resources)
Minesh Jani (Service Head Risk Management)