Issue - meetings

To receive the Internal Audit progress report 1 September to 15 December 2019.

The Audit Manager gave a summary of the report, which detailed work undertaken by Internal Audit since the last report to the Committee on 26 September 2019 and provided an update on implemented and outstanding internal audit recommendations.

She said that all 2018/19 audits had been completed and provided an updated position since 15 December 2019. The Environmental Health Commercial Food Safety audit had been postponed until Quarter1 in 2020/21 due to lack of senior officer resources in Environmental Health. The audit of Members Allowances had been delayed but was due to start shortly.

In response to Members’ questions about the audit opinion of “little” allocated to the Business Continuity and Emergency Planning audit, the Audit Manager explained the basis of the rating and stated that she intended to review the basis of audit opinions. The Chief Executive said that there was a new Emergency Planning Officer in post and that Business Continuity progress and future steps would be outlined to Members. There was a need to embed a new approach and to train people accordingly.

The Chair noted the Internal Audit Progress Report as per the recommendation.