Agenda item

The Executive Director Finance, Assets and Information Services will submit a report providing the Committee with details of the recent external assessment of the Internal Audit arrangements for the Authority against the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PAIAS).

The Executive Director Finance, Assets and Information Services submitted a report detailing the recent external assessment of the Internal Audit arrangements for BMBC against the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS). 

Mark St Romaine IPFA from Bradford City Council, who carried out the review, was welcomed to the meeting and gave an overview of the assessment.  He explained that Barnsley Council Internal Audit Services ‘generally conforms’ to the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and Code of Ethics, which is the top rating within the Standards. 

A number of suggested areas for improvement were outlined together with action proposed to address them.  It was highlighted that Barnsley issues fewer reports than neighbouring authorities.  It was explained that this could be due to a number of reasons, including that some pieces of work do not require a formal report.  What is important is the quality of the work taking place, not the number of reports produced.  The review was carried out rigorously and confirmed compliance against the standards. 

RESOLVED

(i)         that the content of the report be noted, and that;

(ii)        Internal Audit staff and Mark St Romaine be thanked for the professional manner in which the review was conducted