The Head of Infernal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud will submit a report presenting the indicative Internal Audit Action Plan for the financial (audit) year 2018/19, describing the rationale and process for setting the plan, the risk assessment process used and how Internal Audit resources are calculated and deployed.
Minutes:
The Head of Internal Audit introduced the item, referring to the report previously circulated.
Assurances were given that the level of resource available was in line with that seen in previous years. The reduction of the team by a single full time post reflected the reduced income from external sources, and therefore internal activities were not affected.
The attention of Members was drawn to the balance of output from the work; 15% of work in relation to providing advice, whereas 85% would result in issuing a formal assurance report.
The spread of governance themes covered by the plan was noted, as was the number of chargeable days per full time equivalent officer, which benchmarked positively against comparators.
The Committee considered the detail of the plan, as contained within in appendix 2 of the report. Noted were a number of assignments linked to risk areas discussed earlier in the meeting. These included ensuring systems and processes within finance were working efficiently and effectively as possible, and also included a focus on procurement. The plan contained an assignment to consider SEND decision making. Members also noted the governance review of Future Council 2020, and a project/programme management review of Information Technology (IT).
In light of the significant investment in IT planned, and the digital strategy for the Council, the committee discussed the role of Audit. It was noted that members of the Audit Team were involved in the Digital First Board, and that a significant part of the plan was devoted to the digital agenda.
RESOLVED:-
(i) That the indicative Internal Audit Plan, 2018/19, be approved, acknowledging the need for the Head of Internal Audit to exercise his professional judgement during the year to apply the Plan flexibly according to priority, risk and resources available; and
(ii) That the Audit Committee receives quarterly monitoring reports from the Head of Internal Audit to demonstrate progress against the plan including information where the Plan has materially varied from that originally agreed.