Agenda item

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager presented a report summarising the internal audit reports issued during the period 6 May – 25 August, 2017 in respect of reports relating to the 2017/18 internal audit plan.

The Committee noted the four different levels of assurance that reports are given.  Of the ten reports issued in the stated period, one was given ‘Substantial Assurance’, six were given ‘Reasonable Assurance’, and three had ‘Limited Assurance’.  There were no reports given the ‘Inadequate Assurance’ classification.

The Committee welcomed the Assistant Manager for Responsive and Emergency Repairs to provide an update on the progress of implementing the recommendations in the ‘Housing Repairs – Variation Orders’ report, attached as Appendix A to the officer’s report. 

As at February 2017, a variation order was reported on 49.76 per cent of all housing repair jobs undertaken.  Members were informed that steps had been taken to ensure that variation orders were genuine and that the system was not being taken advantage of.

The service began carrying out more robust internal monitoring of jobs that were carried out, which helped to confirm that officers were only carrying out necessary repairs.  In addition, more one-to-one meetings have been carried out between officers and their manager to review individual work processes.  The Committee were advised that monitoring of processes will be continued.

The Committee thanked the Assistant Manager for Responsive and Emergency Repairs.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager updated members on the ‘Safeguarding’ report, attached as Ann an update on the ‘Safeguarding’ report, attached as Appendix A to the officer’s report.  It was advised that that progress had been made on several of the recommendations to the report. 

The introduction of online training via Aspire Learning had been launched, with modules on adult and child safeguarding made mandatory for all employees and elected members.  Monthly monitoring on the uptake and completion of training had taken place, and will be continued.

It was reported that significant progress had been made on the Safeguarding action plan following its self-assessment, with a third of the actions having been completed and all other action on track to be completed in 2017/18.

Work was also undertaken to further embed safeguarding within the authority, including the assignment of a Senior Manager as the designated lead officer for safeguarding.  This, in conjunction with the decision made by all Derbyshire authorities to launch district safeguarding groups, has helped to ensure that all district views are represented at safeguarding board meetings and that peer support is more readily available.

The Internal Audit Consortium Manager also updated members on the implementation of recommendations made by the Standards and Audit Committee to the ‘Choice Based Lettings’ report, attached as Appendix A to the officer’s report. 

A steering group comprising tenants, officers and elected members was created to ensure that a holistic approach was being taken to reviewing how improvements could be made to the management and turnaround of empty properties.

In addition, changes were made to the service’s marketing approach, including the use of Rightmove from approximately October 2017, to increase interest and up-take in properties that are more difficult to-let.

*RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.