Agenda item

The Head of Internal Audit introduced the report and provided a summary of the Q3 report issued that provided limited assurance:

·         Highways programme

·         Estates Health and Safety

·         Dollis Junior School

Highway Programme

The Committee requested that the Highways Programme audit report is referred to the Re Review Working Group to ensure that all of the points picked up in the audit report are covered as part of the review [ACTION].

The Committee further requested that these matters be brought to the attention of the Performance and Contract Management Committee [ACTION]

Estates Health and Safety

The Head of Internal Audit provided a brief summary of the findings.

The interim Chief Operating Officer confirmed that action had been taken against each recommendation as detailed within appendix 2.

He confirmed that the council’s Monitoring Officer had reviewed the council’s corporate health and safety polices to ensure compliance – the polices are reported to the council’s General Functions Committee. He further confirmed that the Monitoring Officer had looked at the systems used by CSG to both log and track compliance testing and remedial work and had confirmed the system to be robust.

Concern was expressed by the Committee around those schools that had failed to respond to requests for information. Clarification was sought on how non-responsiveness was dealt with and what action would be taken to ensure this matter is taken seriously by the school.

The Head of Estates, LBB confirmed that a clear and robust escalation protocol had now been developed. The Head of Estates, CSG confirmed a programme of testing and inspection had been undertaken which included specific compliance tests across various properties within the estate portfolio.

The Committee requested that the escalation protocol for schools compliance include a final escalation whereby the Chairs of Governors of schools that fail to respond to requests for compliance data are invited to attend whichever committee is deemed to be the most relevant to explain why [ACTION]

Officers agreed to also ensure that a note be included in the Weekly Schools Circular to reiterate the importance of responding to the request for up to date compliance data and for the Director of Education & Skills to send direct to Chairs of Governors whose schools have yet to respond [ACTION]

The committee members requested a briefing note on how sub-contractor performance and quality is assured, and how the health and safety teams assist with workplace safety and compliance [ACTION]

The Interim Assurance Director confirmed for the committee that there would be a follow up audit reported in Q1, which would look to confirm if all the actions had been implemented and evidenced. She further clarified the audit would also review water safety testing.

Dollis Junior School

The Head of Internal Audit provided a brief summary of the findings confirmed that they had been approached by the Headteacher and governors who had concerns particularly around budget monitoring - this is where the high priority finding lay.

The school voluntary funds had been closed down in 2015. Clarification was sought as to whether between 2009 and 2015 they had been audited. The Head of internal audit confirmed that the schools Finance committee would be taking ownership of this to ensure the audit takes place.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the Committee noted the work completed to date on Internal Audit Q4 progress report - 1st January to 31st March 2017.

2.    That the Committee notedthe LBB Response to the internal audit report Health and Safety – Estates.

3.    That the Committee approved the updated Internal Audit Charter.