Summary of Internal Audit Reports Issued and Progress Update
Minutes:
The Internal Audit Consortium Manager presented a report summarising the internal audit reports issued during the period 11 January to 26 June, 2020, in respect of reports issued relating to the 2019/20 and 2020/21internal audit plans.
It was noted that 11 reports had been issued during this period with the following levels of assurance:
- ‘Substantial Assurance’ – 4
- ‘Reasonable Assurance’ – 5
- ‘Limited Assurance’ – 1
- ‘Inadequate Assurance - 1
A summary of these reports was attached at Appendix A to the report and a summary of the main issues of the limited assurance (Gifts, Hospitality and Personal Interests) and inadequate assurance (Procurement) reports was attached at Appendix B with the full reports for these at Appendices C and D respectively.
The committee was informed that no fraud had been discovered.
In respect of the Gifts, Hospitality and Personal Interests report it was noted that the Corporate Management Team would consider the process for improving the level of staff awareness, and it was suggested that an online learning module be developed.
In respect of the Procurement report the Assistant Director - Customers, Commissioning and Change explained that consideration was being given to whether the existing long-term improvement plan for the service was sufficient to achieve the desired improvements. It was noted that concerns remained in respect of the performance of the contract with Derbyshire Support and Facilities Service (DSFS) and that a report would be submitted to Cabinet in September / October on the contract arrangements and a new procurement strategy. It was also explained that some of the Council’s internal capacity had recently been redirected in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, but that more resource was now being made available to support services on procurement.
The Assistant Director explained that plans were in place to improve procurement training for managers and to ensure the contracts register and documentation were up-to-date, although this would take three years to fully achieve.
Members expressed concern that a procurement strategy had not yet been agreed, that current systems were not achieving the required standards and that this had been identified as an area of concern by internal audit and within the Annual Governance Statement repeatedly over a number of years.
The Committee considered how it could support the work on procurement to be progressed, including monthly written reports to the Chair and Committee Members, reports to each meeting of the Committee and inviting the Chief Executive or Executive Director to the next meeting of the Committee. The Cabinet Member for Governance invited the Chair to meet with her and the Executive Director to consider progress.
* RESOLVED –
1. That the report be noted.
2. That regular monthly written reports on progress be distributed to the Chair and Members of the Committee and that reports be submitted to each meeting of the Committee.
3. That the Chief Executive be invited to attend the next meeting of the Committee to present the progress report.