Finance & Audit Sub-Committee

Tuesday, 20 November 2001 at 3 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Jackson, McCabe, O’Rourke and Rebecchi.

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Finance Services and Director of Legal & Support Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Mitchell and Robertson (Y).

1028

1999/2000 Audit - Officer Action Plan

1028

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance Services advising of progress in respect of the 1999/2000 Officer Action Plan which was issued by the Council’s External Auditors in June 2001.

Decided:

(1)  that the progress made in respect of the 1999/2000 Audit - Officer Action Plan be noted; and

(2)  that it be noted that progress on the three outstanding items detailed in the Action Plan would continue to be reported to Members as appropriate.

1029

External Auditor’s Annual Report to Members 2000/2001 - Action Plan

1029

There was submitted a report dated 9 November 2001 by the Director of Finance Services appending an Action Plan, compiled by Officers and agreed by the Corporate Management Team, in response to the External Auditor’s Annual Report to Members 2000/2001.  The report advised that the Action Plan had been submitted to PricewaterhouseCoopers for comment and that they had now confirmed their agreement to the Plan which concluded the audit process for 2000/2001.

Decided: 

(1)  that the Sub-Committee note the Action Plan appended to the report which had been agreed by PricewaterhouseCoopers; and

(2)  that it be noted that this concluded the audit process for 2000/2001.

1030

Reconciliations Update - Quarter 2 2001/2002

1030

There was submitted a report dated 8 November 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the current status of the main reconciliations carried out by Finance Services and Housing Services for Quarter 2, 2001/2002.  The report advised that there was an unreconciled difference of £18,499 in the debtors reconciliations, of which only £7 related to 2001/2002, and it was recommended that in the light of the proposal to replace the financial systems, the potentially costly change to the system be not pursued provided the daily checks did not indicate a material change in the unreconciled balance.  The report also advised that the replacement of the current cash Nreceipting system was required as a matter of priority and it was proposed that this form part of the overall replacement of the financial systems.

Decided:

(1)  that the progress made in respect of the main reconciliations carried out by Finance Services and Housing Services be noted; and

(2)  that the action being taken in respect of debtors reconciliations and the cash receipting system be noted.

1031

Internal Audit

1031

There was submitted a report dated 16 November 2001 by the Director of Finance Services providing an update on the progress made in establishing a partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers for the provision of internal audit services for a one year period and setting out the Action Plan for the year and proposals for reporting progress against the Plan.

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that the terms of reference were being finalised and that the Action Plan had been agreed for the partnership approach for the provision of internal audit services;

(2)  that it be agreed to submit monitoring reports against the Action Plan on a quarterly basis; and

(3)  that it be agreed to report to the Sub-Committee on the conclusion of the six month review of the partnership approach.