Issue - meetings

Audit Plan Progress Report - October 2019 to December 2019

Meeting: 28/01/2020 - Audit Committee (Item 5)

5 Audit Plan Progress Report - October 2019 to December 2019 pdf icon PDF 578 KB

To consider the report of Chief Officer Resources.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Chief Officer Resources.

 

The Professional Lead – Internal Audit presented the progress report against the Internal Audit Plan for the period 1st October to 31st December 2019.

 

In response to a Member’s question regarding the ongoing timeline for some reviews, the Professional Lead said that there was a continuous process and Members were informed of tasks from start to finish.  In relation to Bedwellty House and Park the Professional Lead confirmed that the account was up to date and due for signing.

 

In relation to Performance Indicators a Member commented on the low number of return to work interviews carried out by managers.  The Professional Lead advised Members that the agreed action with CLT was that workforce sickness absence performance reports be presented to individual scrutiny committees and this was currently being undertaken. 

 

A Member referred to the percentage of Agreed Actions completed after 6 months and said that 70% was low and Managers needed to improve on this percentage.  The Professional Lead explained that there was only 6 staff in the section and a bereavement had contributed to the sickness absence figures.  She added that the figure would be stable by the end of the year.

 

A Member enquired regarding the backup and retention follow up review in relation to Digital and IT.  The Professional Lead said that 6 weaknesses had been identified, 2 had been fully implemented, 1 had been partly implemented and 3 had not been implemented.  There had been some staff changes in the department which had led to a delay in implementing changes, however, the retention of documents had moved on slightly.  The outstanding weaknesses had been risk assessed and the audit process continued.

 

In response to a Member’s question regarding legal implications for backup and retention follow up audits, the Data Protection & Governance Officer explained that it would not be viewed as a breach of security, but would be a breach of compliance.

 

A Member enquired regarding Insurance, the Audit and Risk Manager said that an Action Plan had not yet been prepared but would be ready by the next Committee meeting.  With regard to the audit review of Housing Benefits a progress report would also be presented to the next Committee meeting.

 

In relation to the systems audit of Corporate Health & Safety a Member commented on the number of accidents not recorded.  The Audit and Risk Manager explained the audit findings had been carried out in conjunction with Health and Safety Advisors.  The Health and Safety Advisor said that discussions had taken place regarding Accident Reporting and the agreed actions had now been implemented. He also confirmed that an error in the official Risk Assessment Guidelines available to all staff had contained an error and this had now been rectified.

 

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the progress on activities for the period October to December 2019 be noted.