Issue - meetings

The Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) submitted a report setting out their overall view on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Council’s control environment on key issues for the period 2016/17.  The report summarised the performance of SIAS on the issue of compliance with Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme.  SIAS also presented their Audit Charter for the civic year 2017/18 for approval.  Members accepted the Audit Charter.

The SIAS Officer explained that in terms of the number of high priority audit recommendations agreed, 93% had met the deadline.  He provided an overview as to why 100% had not been achieved and that a detailed report would be presented to Members in September 2017.

The Chairman referred to recent high profile cyber hacking attacks and sought assurances that the Council had preventative processes in place following recent attacks.  The Director gave a brief overview of what actions had taken place both in the immediate aftermath of awareness of the global attacks, as well as ongoing actions.  She thanked the teams for their hard work and efforts, particularly in the immediate aftermath. She assured Members that the Council had an Action Plan in place that was based upon the best practice guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre and liaised with relevant partners for up to date advice and guidance whenever possible.  This had been in place prior to the high profile attacks and she stated that the Council continued to raise awareness with staff and Members around safe IT usage.

The Head of Strategic Finance provided assurance that the scope and resources for internal audit had not been subject to inappropriate limitations in 2016/17.

Members of Performance, Audit and Governance Scrutiny Committee approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Report be noted;

(B)   the results of the Self-Assessment as required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme be noted;

(C)   the SIAS Audit Charter for 2017/18 be approved; and

(D)   the assurance from management, that the scope and resources for internal audit had not been subject to inappropriate limitations in 2016/17, be noted.