Issue - meetings

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

Mr Dulay from BDO, the Council’s internal auditors presented the fourth report for this financial year which reflects the progress made for the year against the annual internal audit programme along with any significant recommendations with regard to audit completed during this period.

The report highlighted the completion and issuing of three reports as follows:

Channel Shift

This audit received a substantial rating for both Design and Effectiveness, with two low priority findings with recommendations to improve the Council’s arrangements for Channel Shift.

Safeguarding

This audit received a substantial rating for Design and a moderate rating for Effectiveness, with one low priority finding and two medium priority findings. It was noted that the Council does not undertaker periodic checks to ensure staff with direct contact with children have had a DBS check, although this has since been implemented during the audit review. Furthermore, the Council is failing to ensure that key personnel are attending an internal steering group where discussions on safeguarding concerns are raised with delivery partners.

Sustainable Warmth Grants

The audit received a substantial rating for both Design and Effectiveness with two low priority findings. It was noted that the Council were missing key documents to display E.on being responsible for delivering the Sustainable Warmth Grants which may cause confusion in areas such as costings and FPI results.

Mr Dulay advised the Group that there had been no limited assurance reports and management actions had been agreed for all recommendations.

In addition, the Group were informed that the Audit Opinion and Fraud Report would be covered in a separate item and that the Audit Plan is substantially complete except for Hybrid Mail which had not yet been finalised and would be reported at the next meeting of Governance Scrutiny Group.

Members of the Group questioned the safeguarding audit and staff DBS checks not being up to date and raised concerns regarding the Council’s run leisure facilities and were there assurances that companies supporting the leisure facilities were adequately DBS checked. Mr Duly advised the Group that officers have ensured the annual review would be completed. In addition, Mr Dulay asked Councillors to note that all staff who are involved with children as part of their work were enhanced DBS checked.

The Service Manager – Finance offered to provide the Group with an update on compliance in this area.

It was RESOLVED that Governance Scrutiny Group notes the Quarter 4 progress report for 2022/23 (Appendix A) prepared by the Council’s Internal Auditor.