Issue - meetings

The Senior Auditor presented a report summarising the internal audit reports issued during the period 2 March 2019 to 31 May 2019, in respect of reports issued relating to the 2018/19 internal audit plan.

It was noted that eight reports had been issued during this period and had been given the following levels of assurance:

-      ‘Substantial Assurance’ – 3

-      ‘Reasonable Assurance’ – 3

-      ‘Limited Assurance’ – 1

-      ‘Inadequate Assurance’ - 1

The committee was informed that no fraud had been discovered. It was noted that there was an ongoing investigation into the Rufford Close New Build Project which had received an inadequate assurance rating. The report would be presented to the committee once it had been concluded.

The Assistant Director for Customers, Commissioning and Change attended to report on the limited assurance status given to Sickness Absence Management. It was explained that the Human Resources provision was being delivered by Chesterfield Borough Council after the termination of the Arvato contract in October 2018. The audit was welcomed as a basis from which to move forward and all the recommendations were accepted.

The software system used for sickness absence management had not been updated for some time and was very paper based. This would be upgraded by November and additional functions integrated so that it would be a fully automated process by April 2020. The reports on absence data would be broken down into service areas and HR Business Partners had been introduced to work with the service managers so that they understand the specific issues in each department. It was acknowledged that the sickness levels as a whole are higher than the national average and that each area was working on an action plan.

Discussions took place around the future provision of Occupational Health Services as the contract was due to expire. It was acknowledged that procurement could not be undertaken until each service area had identified their needs. Members highlighted the council’s duty of care to its employees and the Assistant Director for Customers, Commissioning and Change agreed with the sentiment and explained that a paper had already been submitted to CMT to review the budget allocation for the Occupational Health provision.

* RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.