Issue - meetings

This report introduces the draft 2005/06 Statement of Internal Control (SIC) for Members’ consideration prior to it being reported to the Executive for their approval and recommendation to Full Council on the 29^th June 2006. 

Members considered a report which invited them to discuss and comment upon the draft 2005/06 Statement of Internal Control (SIC) prior to it being reported to the Executive for their approval and recommendation to full Council.  The draft SIC was attached as Annex 1 to the report.

It was a legal requirement for all local authorities to publish an SIC as part of their Statutory Accounts.  Preparation of the 2005/06 SIC had been co-ordinated by the Officer Governance Group (OGG) and each Directorate had completed a self-assessment of the key controls within their respective areas.  A copy of the draft SIC, which included ten significant control issues, was attached as Annex 1 to the report.  In future, the OGG would monitor delivery of the action plan to address these issues and the progress made by each Directorate to rectify control weaknesses, through periodic focused reviews.  It was also proposed that this progress be reported to the Audit and Governance Committee as part of the OGG monitoring reports.

Members queried the differences between this year’s and last year’s significant control issues.  Officers confirmed that there was some overlap, but that 4 new issues had been identified this year and 5 of last year’s issues had been dealt with.  In future, reports would include details of progress on issues from previous years.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the contents of the draft 2005/06 SIC be noted.

REASON:      In accordance with the Committee’s role to consider the SIC prior to its consideration by the Executive and full Council.

                        (ii)        That the monitoring arrangements for the overall SIC action plan and the individual action plans for each Directorate, together with the proposals to update Members on progress through OGG monitors, be noted.

REASON:      To enable Members to comment on the proposed monitoring arrangements.