Agenda item

John Scott, Audit Manager:

a.    presented the Internal Audit Progress Report to Audit Committee, incorporating the overall position reached so far and summaries of the outcome of audits completed during the period January 2019 - March 2019, as detailed at Appendix A

b.    highlighted that Audit Committee had the responsibility for receiving a regular progress report from Internal Audit on the delivery of the Internal Audit Plan as a key requirement of public sector internal audit standards

c.    detailed the content of the report covering the following main areas:

4. highlighted audits carried out in the following areas given assurances as follows:

5. reported on other significant work ongoing in relation to:

6. advised on audits currently in progress as detailed at paragraph 6 of the report

7. provided a summary of all audits where recommendations were overdue/extended/implemented and not yet due as detailed at paragraph 7 of the report

8. reported on an outstanding recommendation from Boultham Park Refurbishment audit in 2017/18; an update would be given at tonight’s meeting by the appropriate officer

9. detailed the contents of the Audit Plan Schedule at Appendix 2 of the report

10. highlighted performance against annual planned work targets as detailed at paragraph 8 and Appendix 4 of the report

11. requested members' consideration on the content of the report.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail, asking whether the option available to tenants of ‘Right to Buy’ at three years occupancy in a council house was the same for newly built housing stock.

Jaclyn Gibson, Chief Finance Officer advised that she would seek clarification on this matter and respond to members of Audit Committee before the next meeting.

Caroline Bird, Community Services Manager, updated Audit Committee on progress made in relation to the signing of the Partnership Agreement for Boultham Park Refurbishment, covering the following main points:

·         An existing agreement was held with Linkage Community Trust which was serving us well.

·         Good progress had been made on agreeing the terms of the revised Partnership Agreement with Linkage.

·         There were just a few details to finalise which neither party envisaged would cause any problems.

·         The delay had been due to a lack of staff resources the scheme being without a dedicated Project Manager for more than a year.

·         It was hoped that the Partnership Agreement would be finalised by 31 August 2019.

Members highlighted that ward councillors had not always been made aware of changes as the project moved forward probably due to the project manager having left before the scheme was finalised. Although verbal agreement may have been made prior to this, the need to keep records in writing was emphasised in order that achievements on the ground could be monitored.

Caroline Bird confirmed that project staff tended to move on as schemes came to an end. She highlighted the need to have good hand over agreements. She advised that the only issues she was aware of was where there had been problems with the path which hadn’t been laid properly. This issue was being addressed through negotiations with the contractors.

Members asked whether the issues with the path were due to the way the project was monitored or down to contractor error.

Caroline Bird advised that the path had to be laid subject to certain weather conditions. The contractors had taken the risk of laying it close to the border line when the job shouldn’t have been done. The contractor would have to replace it at their own expense.

RESOLVED that:

1.    An update on options available to ‘Right to Buy’ customers moving into new build council housing be provided to members of Audit Committee before the next meeting.

2.    The contents of the report and continuation of further monitoring arrangements be noted.