Audit Committee

Thursday 16 March 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), Moran, Nimmo, Robertson  and Stewart.

Chair:    Councillor McCabe presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Mr A Henderson (for Director of Education Services), Mr H McNeilly (for Solicitor to the Council), Chief Financial Officer, Interim Chief Internal Auditor and Ms E Di Murro (Internal Audit).

Present Also:  Mr D Richardson, Audit Scotland.

Apologies:  Councillor Mitchell.

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

221

External Audit Action Plans

221

There was submitted a report dated 24 February 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer providing an update on progress made against previously issued External Audit Action Plans.

(Councillor Robertson entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

222

External Audit - Progress Report

222

There was submitted a report dated 24 February 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer appending the draft report produced by Audit Scotland on matters arising from the investigation of a complaint relating to the tender for telescopic handlers (FS0311).

Decided: 

(1)      that the Committee note with concern the findings of the report and instruct the relevant officers to address the issues raised; and

(2)      that the arrangements for ongoing monitoring of implementation of the agreed actions be noted.

223

Customer Complaints Procedures - Progress Report at 21 February 2006

223

There was submitted a report dated 21 February 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress made as at 21 February 2006 against the action plan from the 2005/06 Internal Audit Report "Customer Complaints Procedure".

The Depute Chief Executive advised the Committee that a report on the customer complaints procedures would be submitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 May 2006 and that the procedures would be submitted in draft to all Elected Members prior to that date.

Decided:  that the progress as set out in the appendix to the report be noted.

224

Internal Audit Options Appraisal

224

There was submitted a report dated 27 February 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the outcome of the Internal Audit options appraisal exercise.

The Chief Financial Officer advised the Committee that no action would be taken to fill the vacant post of Chief Internal Auditor in the immediate future pending a review of options to be carried out by the Chief Executive.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the readvertisement of the vacant post of Chief Internal Auditor and the current review of options; and

(2)      that it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to progress discussions on collaborative working with the second local authority referred to in the report.

225

Internal Audit - Progress Report

225

There was submitted a report dated 24 February 2006 by the Interim Chief Internal Auditor on the work undertaken by the Internal Audit Section for the period 20 December 2005 to 24 February 2006.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the progress made by Internal Audit in the reporting period; and

(2)      that the Committee note the progress to date in the options appraisal exercise in respect of  models for future Internal Audit service delivery.

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 on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

226

Internal Audit - Progress Report: Appendix

226

There was submitted appendix to the Internal Audit Progress Report providing details of three special investigations.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Interim Chief Internal Auditor to include within her first quarter report for 2006/07, the year end arrangements in respect of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund, Community Regeneration Fund, Social Inclusion Partnership Funding and Earmarked Reserves.