Agenda item

The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance submitted a report, which was presented by Mrs A Salt (Corporate Governance and Assurance Manager) providing an update of the Action Plan relating to the issues identified following the Annual Governance Review for 2019/20.  A copy of the Action Plan was appended to the report.

Any actions not completed would be carried forward to the following year.

Since the report had been published there were a couple of changes/corrections:

·         The Phishing exercise had been completed at the end of August 2021 and the Phishing Dashboard had been completed

·         In relation to Training and Awareness, the timeline for the Success Factors Phase 2 would now be September 2022 (from February 2022).  In addition, the timeline for the Success Factors in relation to Personal Development Reviews would be September 2022 (from February 2022).  Both these issues would be picked up in next year’s Action Plan

In the ensuing discussion, the following matters were highlighted:

·         An explanation was provided of the reasons for the slippage in the timeline for the Success Factors.  This was largely as a result of the impact on staffing and workloads of the Covid pandemic.  It was pleasing to note, however, that everything was now back on track

·         Work had commenced on a review and development of a defined governance framework and improved reporting arrangements in relation to Partnerships, Relationships and Collaboration Governance.  Both the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance and the Service Director Finance were involved in this process.   The Service Director Finance commented that in addition to the wider governance review a separate specific review was being undertaken on the partnership and governance arrangements for Berneslai Homes and this was almost complete.  The outcome of this would be reported to a future meeting

·         It was suggested that in order to gain a greater insight into the governance arrangements further information should be submitted on Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s)/Confidentiality Agreements.  Further information on the process for dealing with such matters and the issues arising therefrom could be provided at the workshop meeting or at a future training/awareness session

·         Questions were asked about housing delivery.  In response, the Service Director Regeneration and Culture commented on the housing targets set by government that the service had to meet each year.  Within the period of the covid pandemic as construction had slowed down, the housing targets had not been met but these had been exceeded in the previous year and they were likely to be exceeded this year.  It was noted, however, that the housing target was aggregated over a three-year period, therefore, the service was likely to meet its target over the three-year period.  Further information on this could be provided which would give members an assurance that plans were in place to meet all targets

RESOLVED that the progress made against each item listed in the Action Plan and the explanations provided regarding various aspects of the progress detailed be noted.