Issue - meetings

The Report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services

Mr Chris Williams, Head of Internal Audit at RSM, the Council’s internal auditors presented a report and on the Internal Audit Strategy 2018/19 – 2020/21. Mr Williams advised that the approach that RSM had developed the audit plan with regard to the Council’s corporate objectives, risk profile and assurances framework, as well as other factors affecting the Council in the year ahead, including changes within the public sector.

Mr Williams concurred with the Council’s view that it was best practice to produce an annual fraud report and that this was not currently included within the Council’s plan for 2018/19. Mr Williams proposed, with the support of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services that, 2-3 days should be allocated from the 10 days contingency included in the plan for a fraud report to be produced, with a view to it being considered by Corporate Governance Group at its meeting in July 2018.

Members of the Group considered the report and raised their concerns regarding business continuity and the Council’s ability to respond as a result of a ‘disaster’, for example; cyber-attack, fire or flu pandemic. The Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services informed members that business continuity did not currently form part of the strategy and suggested that he met with Mr Williams at a later date with a view to adding it into the Strategy (possibly taking some of the days from the Health and Safety Audit). The Interim Chief Communication Officer added that IT had recently completed a disaster recovery exercise successfully.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the Internal Audit Strategy and Audit Plan 2018/19 to 2020/21 be approved.

b)    an annual fraud report be included in the Audit Strategy and Audit Plan 2018/19 to 2020/21, with the intention that the report be brought to the July 2018 meeting of the Corporate Governance Group for approval.