Agenda item

Report of the Head of Internal Audit.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Internal Audit concerning an update on Internal Audit activity during September and since the last update provided to the Committee.

The following points were noted:

• Audit Findings: The internal audit report highlighted that most completed audits resulted in limited assurance, with only one providing moderate assurance. This reflects a focus on higher-risk areas.
• Community and Children's Services: The audit of Community and Children's Services revealed issues with risk management processes, including risk owners not managing their risk registers. This raised concerns about the consistency of risk management across the organization.
• Outstanding Recommendations: There were several high-priority recommendations still outstanding, particularly related to schools and housing. Follow-up work is planned for January 2025 to assess progress.
• Team Development and Strategy: The internal audit team was focusing on developing the skills of junior auditors and creating an internal audit strategy to align with new global standards.
• Value for Money (VFM) Audit: The internal audit plan for the rest of the year does not yet incorporate findings from the recent VFM audit, but these will be considered for the 2025-2026 plan.
• Flexibility of Audit Plan: While the audit plan is designed to be dynamic, there are practical limitations to making significant changes within the remaining months of the year. Urgent audits can still be prioritised as needed.