Agenda item - Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion

Report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy

attached).

14.1      The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources, which was presented by the Acting Head of Internal Audit. The report presented the Internal Audit Report and Opinion for 2013/14, and summarised the work of the Internal Audit Team for the financial year 2013/14 as well as the work of the Corporate Fraud Team. The report incorporated the Acting Head of Internal Audit’s opinion on the system of internal control.

14.2      The Chair asked whether staffing issues had impacted on the work of the Internal Audit Team. Officers advised it had; the previous Head of Audit  & Business Risk was absent for part of the year, and there had been a number of staff who had been absent due to long-term sickness.

14.3      Councillor Simson noted that despite the absence of key members of staff that a huge amount of work had been undertaken. She suggested that the message to the city that the Council would not accept fraud was important as any sum recovered.

14.4      Mr Horne asked whether the changes to the funding for the Corporate Fraud Team were identified on the Financial Risk Register. Officers advised they were. Although most of the existing Corporate Fraud Team were likely to transfer to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), some funding would remain and the DWP would not remove any funding during this financial year. Mr Horne asked if the Committee could be kept up to date on any changes. Officers advised that a further report would be brought to the Committee later in the year.

14.5      RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.