Agenda item

The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance submitted his finalised Annual Report in accordance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards. The report provided his opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s Framework of Governance, Risk and Internal Control based on the work undertaken by Internal Audit for 2021/22.

The key points of the report remained the same as the interim report, which was presented to the Committee on 27th July, and sought to reiterate the positive (reasonable) assurance opinion.

The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance was assured that Internal Audit continued to operate in an independent manner, and there was an ongoing culture of the organisation to embrace challenge and openness.

The audit plan for 2022-23 was focussed on supporting management to consider the approach to controls in the context of the achievement of strategic objectives and priorities, and the major change and transformation programme ahead.

In the ensuing discussion, it was noted that the outstanding management action in relation to Children’s Services had been updated.

RESOLVED

(i)            That the opinion provided by the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s framework of governance, risk management and control be noted; and

(ii)          That the key issues arising from the work of Internal Audit in the context of the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) be noted.