Agenda item

The Service Director Finance submitted a report seeking approval to undertake an independent External Quality Assessment (EQA) for the Internal Audit function in compliance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).

The report outlined the background to the proposal which, in accordance with the PSIAS and further clarified by the Local Government Application Note prepared by CIPFA, required that external assessments of the internal audit function should be conducted at least once every five years.  It outlined the various options considered and recommended that CIPFA be appointed as Independent Consultants to undertake the EQA and to subsequently participate in the assessment process as required.

The report also outlined the key aspects and EQA methodology for undertaking the review and indicated that the last review had been undertaken in March, 2016.  The CIFPA brochure for undertaking assessments was appended to the report.

The EQA would commence in May 2021 with the issue of questionnaires followed by interviews and review of work in June.  A final report would be issued by mid July.

It was noted that the Chair would be one of the persons interviewed as part of the Assessment process and any members of the Committee wishing to submit comments to him to take forward as part of that process were welcome to do so.

Written responses to questions asked by Members of the Committee were provided as follows:

·         The consensus appeared to be that Members were in full agreement that CIPFA was best placed to carry out this type of work

·         Information was provided about the cost of the EQA to the Authority

RESOLVED:

(i)             that the report be noted;

(ii)               that the approach to use CIPFA as the Independent Consultants to undertake the EQA and to subsequently participate in the assessment process as required be endorsed.