Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2015 be approved as a correct record.

There were none.

Councillor Geof Cooke declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 8, CAFT Q3 Progress Report: October - December 2015, as his children attend East Barnet School.

None.

Details of the questions asked and the published answers were provided with the agenda papers for the meeting. Verbal responses were given to supplementary questions at the meeting.

None.

The Head of Internal Audit introduced the report.  The Committee discussed the report and asked questions to the relevant Director(s), or their representatives, on the audits that received limited or no assurance reports, including Street Scene Operations, the Better Care Fund and Section 75 agreements, Compliance with Contract Procedure Rules, Accounts Payable and Client Affairs.  

The Committee discussed the ‘Recruitment – conflicts of Interest’ and ‘Workforce Management – Governance Arrangements’ issues identified in the no assurance audit opinion of the Street Scene Operations Review. The HR Director CSG agreed the new process to review job application forms regarding declarations of interest or close relatives would be piloted for 6 months (as opposed to 2 years) before the outcome is reported to the Audit Committee.

The HR Director CSG responded to Members’ questions regarding whether the issues uncovered could attest to wider weaknesses in HR procedures. In particular it was noted that robust monitoring needs to be in place to ensure policies are being implemented across the Council. The Committee requested that these matters be brought to the attention of the Performance and Contract Management Committee to determine whether there are contract compliance issues which need attention.

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the work completed to date on the Internal Audit Annual Plan 2015-16 and progress against high priority recommendations

The Assurance Assistant Director introduced the report.

RESOLVED - That the Committee note the CAFT Progress Report covering the period 1st October 2015 – 31st December 2015.

The Assistant Director of Finance, CSG presented the report.

RESOLVED -That the External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter for 2014/2015 be accepted as a reasonable statement on the Council’s position in respect of the Audit of the Accounts, Financial Performance, Value for Money and Financial Resilience.

The Assistant Director of Finance, CSG presented the report.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the Committee note the report.

2.    That the matters raised by the External Auditors relating to the grant submission and certification process are noted by the Committee.

Leigh Lloyd Thomas and Jody Etherington from BDO presented the report.

RESOLVED - That the Committee note the content of Appendix A.

The Committee noted the forward work programme 2015-16.

There were none.