Issue - meetings

To consider the report from the Director of Resources, (copy enclosed)

The Committee received the report of the Director of Resources reporting progress to date with regards to work completed along with any deviances to, or slippage on, the Internal Audit Plan 2018 / 19 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

The Committee were introduced to Mr Greg Rubins, Partner, from BDO LLP who presented the Internal Audit Plan.  He highlighted three key areas where audit work had been undertaken and in response to questions the Committee were provided with the following information:

·                 Attendance management: The Director of Resources highlighted a number of new initiatives which had been adopted by the Council.  These together with staff training, a consistent approach to application of the process and resolution of some long term sicknesses cases had led to a substantial reduction in the number of days sickness.

·                 Business Resilience: Disaster recovery testing related to the Council itself and internal responses to this, rather than a civil response to issues such as flooding.  It was noted that the recent testing had been observed by Internal Audit.  Members were advised that some Key Performance Indicators had been suggested around shared service work with Chelmsford city Council.

·                 Elections Improvement Plan: It was clarified that a review had not been undertaken by the Electoral Commission.  Following its audit a limited opinion had been issued.  This related primarily to evidence not being provided and delays in evidence provided to support completion of the plan.

In response to further questions the Director of Resources outlined the problems which had led to the limited opinion being issued along with two medium level recommendations.  Members noted that a number of improvements had been made to processes, staffing, as well as project planning.

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the Director of Resources reports back to the next meeting of this Committee on electoral services.  This proposal was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)              that the progress against the 2018 / 19 Internal Audit Plan be noted;

(ii)            that the Director of Resources reports back to the next meeting of this Committee on electoral services.