Finance and Audit Sub-Committee

Tuesday, 19 September 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Jackson, McCabe (for Councillor Morrison (M)), Mitchell, O’Rourke and Rebecchi.

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Mr J Sutherland (for Director of Education Services), Director of Legal & Support Services and Director of Resource Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Robertson (Y).

      833

Mr Ian Wilson

833

The Chief Executive referred to the death the previous day, while on holiday in Cyprus, of Mr Ian Wilson, Editor in Chief and former Editor of the Greenock Telegraph and on behalf of the Members and Officers of the Council, he expressed sympathy and condolences to Mr Wilson’s family.

      834

Revenue Monitoring - Review of Reporting Format

834

There was submitted a report dated 28 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services reviewing the format of the revenue monitoring reports as agreed by the Sub-Committee at its meeting on 6 June 2000 (Para 556).

Decided: 

(1)  that it be agreed to continue with the existing format for one further Committee cycle;  and

(2) that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee setting out possible alternative formats and suggested refinements to the current reporting arrangements.

      835

Audit Priorities

835

There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on audit priorities.  The report advised that an early priority for the new Chief Internal Auditor, who would be taking up post on 25 September 2000, would be the preparation of both Annual and Strategic Audit Plans for submission to the Sub-Committee.  In addition, it was noted that Internal Audit staffing levels and training needs would be assessed within the next 2/3 months and any recommendations in this regard would be submitted to the appropriate Committee. 

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that further reports would be submitted to the Sub-Committee on both the Annual and Strategic Audit Plans; and

(2)  that it be noted that the adequacy of Internal Audit staffing levels would be re-assessed and that any recommendations in this regard would be submitted to the appropriate Committee.

      836

Internal Resources Interest

836

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services setting out the reasons for the projected net Internal Resources Interest shortfall of £439,000.

Decided:  that consideration be continued for a further report incorporating more detailed information for submission to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

      837

Finance Services - Reconciliation of Control Accounts

837

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the reconciliation of control accounts following identification of a £472,000 variance in the 1999/2000 Period 12 -v- Outturn comparison which had been reported to the meeting of the Sub-Committee on 15 August 2000 (Para 706).  The report advised that action had been taken in respect of all 4 elements of the adverse variance, that remedial action had been included in both the Period 12 -v- Outturn Action Plan and the overall Audit Action Plan and that progress made against these plans would be reported to future meetings of the Finance and Audit Sub-Committee or the Policy and Strategy Committee as appropriate.  It was noted that the impact of the variance had already been incorporated into the revenue monitoring reports presented to Committee for 2000/01.  The report further advised that the 1999/2000 accounts were currently subject to audit and that the External Auditor’s report would be submitted in due course later in the year.  

Decided: 

(1)   that the progress made against the Action Plans be noted; and

(2)  that a further report be submitted to the Sub-Committee detailing the measures put in place to ensure that the problems identified do not recur in future years.