Agenda item

This report provides an update on progress made in delivering the internal audit workplan for 2015/16 and on current counter fraud activity.

Members considered a report which provided an update on progress made in delivering the internal audit workplan for 2015/16 and on current counter-fraud activity.  The final internal audit reports had been included with the online agenda papers.

Tour de France

Members expressed concerns regarding the findings of the Tour de France audit report and questioned officers regarding aspects of the report, including the decision not to name the Members and officers who had been interviewed as part of the audit.  Officers explained that the audit had been commissioned as a “lessons to be learned” report with the intention of identifying what could be done differently when future projects were planned.  The report was a public document and hence individuals had not been named to avoid the need for redactions.  The report was now with the Chief Executive for consideration.

Members sought clarification as to whether, if a similar event was to be held, it would be subject to the project management arrangements that were now in place.  Officers confirmed this to be the case.

Members noted the comments that had been raised by the Chair of the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee under the Public Participation item, and agreed that it would be beneficial for the Audit and Governance Committee to work with the Scrutiny Task Group who were carrying out a review of aspects of the TDF.   Members agreed on the importance of ensuring that lessons were learned and suggested that the Task Group should be asked to consider recommending a policy and procedures that could be applied for similar events in the future.  It was agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair would liaise with the Chair of the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee to request that the issues raised by Audit and Governance Committee were addressed during the course of the review.

Some concerns were expressed that it was now some time since the TDF had taken place but no learning points had yet been identified.  It was noted that the scrutiny task group were intending to complete their review by the end of the current municipal year.

Public Health

Concerns were expressed that the Public Health audit had received an audit opinion of “limited assurance”.  Members requested that the Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee include this as an agenda item on their committee’s work plan if they had not already done so.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made in delivering the 2015/16

internal audit programme, and current counter fraud activity be noted.

(ii)      That, as part of their review, the TDF Task Group be asked to consider the concerns raised by the Audit and Governance Committee.¹

(iii)     That the Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee be requested to consider the recommendations arising from the Public Health audit report if they had not already done so.²

Reasons:   (i)      To enable Members to consider the implications

                             of audit and fraud findings.

(ii)      To ensure that lessons learned can be applied to the planning of future events.

(iii)     To raise awareness of the issues in the report and ensure appropriate monitoring of progress in addressing the recommendations.