Agenda item - Internal audit and corporate fraud progress report

Report of the Executive Director, Finance & Resources (copy attached).

1)            That the Audit & Standards Committee notes the report

60.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Finance & Resources that summarised the progress made against the Internal Audit and Corporate Fraud Plan, the key issues identified and action being taken and progress made by management in implementing audit recommendations.

60.2      Councillor Sykes asked for further information on temporary accommodation voids including the percentage of voids and the associated cost, what actions were being taken to monitor contract standing orders and clarification on checks on the eligibility of Right to Buy cases.

60.3      The Head of Internal Audit stated that he did not have information in relation to temporary accommodation voids to hand and would provide an update to Councillor Sykes after the meeting. He confirmed that work was required to provide assurance and the Internal Audit team were providing training and monitoring activity to achieve that. Right to Buy eligibility related to an assessment of whether an individual had sufficient funds to purchase properties under the Right to Buy scheme and was used as a deterrent to reduce loan shark activity.

60.4      Councillor Taylor noted that administration of banking systems had been given limited assurance and requested re-assurance that Internal Audit were satisfied that alternative solutions had been put in place and not all recommendations had been implemented.

60.5      The Head of Internal Audit stated that it was the decision of the relevant manager whether to implement the recommendations or agree alternative solutions. Internal Audit monitored and follow-up instances of limited assurance to track progress.

60.6      Dr Horne stated that building and systems access control and IT waste disposal had for some time both had high priority recommendations that had not been implemented. Dr Horne stated that there was seemingly a lack of focus and insufficient progress perhaps because the actions were not robust enough. On this basis, Dr Horne recommended that a report be brought to the committee on these two areas.

60.7      The Executive Director, Finance & Resource welcomed the comments from Dr Horne and agreed that a report could be submitted to the Committee.

60.8      Councillor Druitt requested further information on Blue Badge enforcement, specifically the quantity recovered against the overall number issued and more detail on the actions being taken to reduce fraud.

60.9      The Head of Internal Audit stated that he did not have this information to hand and would provide a response after the Committee.

60.10   Councillor Morris stated that he welcomed the actions being taken on resident parking permits and temporary accommodation and asked when a report would be submitted detailing the results of the actions.

60.11   The Head of Internal Audit stated that this would be reported to committee in the usual schedule of Internal Audit progress reports.

60.12   RESOLVED- That the Audit & Standards Committee notes the report