Issue - meetings

To provide members with the position on the progress made by management in implementing agreed Internal Audit recommendations as at 11 November 2020 (report of the Head of Internal Audit for SHDC enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Internal Audit Manager, which provided members with the position on the progress made by management in implementing agreed Internal Audit recommendations as at 11 November 2020.

In 2017/18, a total of 85 recommendations were raised by both internal audit providers.  Of those, 82 had been implemented by management, three were outstanding (one urgent and two important).  The management responses in relation to the outstanding urgent and important outstanding recommendations could be seen at Appendix 2 of the report.

In 2018/19, a total of 76 recommendations were raised by both internal audit providers.  Of those, 67 had been completed and 9 (two urgent, six important and one needing attention) were overdue.  The management responses in relation to the outstanding important recommendations could be seen at Appendix 3 of the report.

In 2019/20, a total of 77 recommendations were agreed.  Of these, 44 had been completed, 12 were outstanding (four urgent, four important and four needing attention).  A total of 21 were not yet due.

The information within the report was considered, and the following issues were raised:

·         It was disappointing that there were still some outstanding actions that were 2-3 years behind the original date, and rather than submitting comments on the report, managers should be asked to attend the meeting.

·         The Strategic Finance and Compliance Manager advised of the three areas outstanding from the 2017/18 audit recommendations: 1) Asset Management programme review of all leases – there was some movement with this item in line with a report that had been presented to the last Cabinet meeting, but the officer could attend the next meeting if the Committee wished; 2) Accounts Payable Key Controls (Finance system) – the recommendation was predicated on the implementation of the new system which had been delayed until 2021; and 3) Welland Homes – the Strategic Housing Manager had been invited to the meeting to provide an update.

·         The Strategic Housing Manager provided the following update regarding the outstanding action to devise a service level agreement to formally record the services provided by the Council to Welland Homes, and to the terms on which those services were provided, including service charges.  It was anticipated that the final contract would be presented to a meeting of the Board on 26 January 2021.  A draft report had been submitted to a Board meeting in August 2020, this had been broadly agreed, and officers were therefore in the latter stages of finalising this action.  The main reason for the time taken to finalise the document had been in the understanding and content of the contract and agreeing that between the Council and the Company.  At the time the recommendation was made, Welland Homes had one housing project that had been delivered for the Company by SHDC officers.  Also at that time there was not an established Housing Development Team of officers.  Now that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18