Audit Committee

Thursday, 2 September 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), Roach, Robertson, Stewart and White.

Chair:    Councillor McCabe presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services) and Chief Internal Auditor.

Present also: Mr D Richardson and Ms A Cairns, Audit Scotland.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

   551

“A Job Worth Doing” - Follow Up Report

551

There was submitted a report dated 17 August 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the main findings of the follow up to the report “A Job Worth Doing - Raising the Standard of Internal Audit in Scottish Councils” undertaken by Audit Scotland.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the report which highlights the significant efforts made by the staff within the Internal Audit Service in achieving almost full compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal Audit in Local Government and in obtaining a Band 1 ranking; and

(2)   that the relevant staff be commended for their hard work and commitment.

   552

External Audit Reports

552

There was submitted a report dated 9 August 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the main findings of the reports produced by Audit Scotland since the last meeting of the Committee.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the matters raised in the Executive Summary.

   553

Internal Audit - Quarterly Report

553

There was submitted a report dated 4 August 2004 by the Chief Internal Auditor appending the quarterly monitoring report on Internal Audit activity for the period to 31 July 2004.

Decided:  that the Committee endorse the continuing progress made by Internal Audit as detailed in the report.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 14 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

   554

Internal Audit - Quarterly Report: Appendix

554

There was submitted appendix to Internal Audit quarterly monitoring report to 31 July 2004 providing details of 4 audits.

Decided:  that the action as detailed in the reports be endorsed.