Audit And Risk Management Sub-committee - 24/09/2007

At a MEETING of the AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th September, 2007.

Present:-

Bailie Roderick A J WALLACE

COUNCILLORS

In Attendance:-

Pearl Tate, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland.

Councillor Joe MORROW, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 488-2007 by the Senior Audit Manager advising the Sub-Committee of the External Audit Report finalised since the last Committee.

The Sub-Committee noted the Computer Service Review findings and noted the submission of the Statutory Performance Indicators and amendment to the reporting of the Efficient Government Progress findings.

II REVIEW OF PREVIOUS YEARS' EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT ACTION PLANS

There was submitted Report No 462-2007 by the Head of Finance providing the Sub-Committee with an update on the progress on implementing recommendations from previously agreed external audit reports.

The Sub-Committee agreed to note the position outlined in the report and detailed on Appendix A to the report regarding progress on implementing previously agreed recommendations.

With regard to Asset Management Planning, it was agreed that a further meeting be arranged between the appropriate officers and the External Auditor, and a full report submitted to the next meeting of this Sub-Committee, should the plan not be in place at that time.

III 2006/07 INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 492-2007 by the Chief Internal Auditor, together with the Internal Audit Annual Report for 2006/07 which summarised the activities of the Council's Internal Audit Service for this period and provided an opinion on the strength of the Council's control environment.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained within the report.

IV INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 493-2007 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing members with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained within the report.

The Sub-Committee further acknowledged the work of the staff, both in internal audit and service departments in improving performance and efficiency.

V INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS - SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

There was submitted Report No 494-2007 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing the Sub-Committee with an update on the progress in implementing internal audit recommendations previously reported to and agreed by Management.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained within the report.

VI AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE - ELECTED MEMBER TRAINING UPDATE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN231-2007, advising that the Policy and Resources Committee had recently approved a report on the Terms of Reference of the Audit and Risk Management Sub-Committee. It had also been agreed at the last Audit and Risk Management Sub-Committee in June 2007 that the Head of Finance would undertake to develop a training programme for elected members of the Sub-Committee. The preparation of such training to assist members in discharging their duties and which would cover external audit, internal audit and risk management was currently being progressed and it is planned would be held in early November 2007. It was agreed that such training would also cover substitutes.

The Sub-Committee noted the schedule of meetings for 2008 as detailed below:-

Monday, 21st January, 2008 at 12 noon.

Monday, 19th May, 2008 at 12 noon.

Monday, 22nd September, 2008 at 12 noon.

Joe MORROW, Convener.