Minutes:
The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance submitted a report outlining the annual audit planning process and to consult the Committee with regard to potential projects for inclusion in the draft Internal Audit Plan for 2023/24.
A key part of the audit planning process was to ensure sufficient overall coverage was provided across the Council to enable the Head of Internal Audit to give an annual opinion on the effectiveness of the Council’s control, risk and governance arrangements. In addition, and where possible, capacity would be provided for advisory support to management. A detailed 5-year Plan was used for the discussions with Business Units and SMT, covering work undertaken in 2020/21 and 2021/22, the work currently included in the 2022/23 Plan and a look ahead at potential coverage for 2023/24 and 2024/25 to assist in the consideration of possible areas for audit coverage.
The Committee were invited to forward any further nominations for potential inclusion in the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan to the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance at their earliest opportunity.
RESOLVED:
i) That Members noted the report and considered potential projects for consideration in the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/24.
ii) That Members of the Committee pass any further nominations for inclusion in the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan to the Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance.
iii) That the Committee is satisfied that the planning process is sufficiently robust that it will determine a value-adding Audit Plan, informed by risk and through consultation with appropriate senior management.
iv) That the professional responsibility of the Head of Internal Audit to ultimately determine the Plan of audit work be acknowledged.