Agenda item

Further to minute 4 of the previous meeting held on the 5^th June, 2019, the Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud will submit his final Internal Annual Report 2018/19 providing an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s framework of governance, risk management and control arrangements based on the work of Internal Audi during 2018/19.

Further to Minute 4 of the previous meeting held on the 5^th June, 2019, the Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud submitted his final Internal Audit Annual Report 2018/19 providing an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s Framework of Governance, Risk Management and Control Arrangements based on the work of Internal Audit during 2018/19.

At the June meeting the Committee had noted that an indicative annual assurance opinion of adequate had been given.  Internal Audit had now substantially completed their work programme and the current report had been written on an exceptions basis to highlight any outcomes that may have a positive or negative effect on the interim assurance opinion.  Taking the whole year into account, the Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud was able to confirm an overall adequate (positive) assurance opinion for the year.

Particular reference was made to the commissioning of the Service to undertake a review of governance and contract management regarding the Glassworks project and to the scope of that audit. To date this had included:

·         Providing challenge and advice on the Project Execution Plan

·         Facilitation a Risk Workshop around the governance arrangements to inform work in 2019/20

·         Providing challenge and advice on the Risk Registers

·         Advice on Board governance and decision making

This programme would continue throughout the lifetime of the project and was the second review of the development, the first being the ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Development Management Organisation’ review that had been completed as part of the 2016/17 Internal Audit Plan.  This review had resulted in an adequate assurance opinion.

RESOLVED that the adequate (positive) assurance opinion for the year based on the audit work undertaken to deliver the 2018/19 Internal Audit Plan regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s Framework of Governance, Risk Management and Control be noted.