Agenda item

The Senior Internal Audit Manager presented the report which provided summary information on all Internal Audit work covered in relation to the 2018/19 Quarter 1, together with assurance levels in this respect.

The Committee was informed that for 2018/19 Quarter 1, one assurance review had concluded, one consultancy review had been finalised,  one grant claim had been certified and nine pieces of 2017/18 work had been finalised. The planned Internal Audit consultancy review of CYPS Thematic Revie Ofsted preparations was also concluded. The Council has also recently been tasked with identifying at least 450 turned around families for the August 2018 submission. Internal Audit was liaising closely with officers given the tight timescale and backdrop of the current reduction in Internal Audit resource.

It was noted that the Internal Audit was operating at a reduced capacity which impacted the number of reviews. There was an recruitment plan in place. There had also been a recent restructure which saw the team being reduced to the Head of Business Assurance and a team of seven from eight. This took the place of a trainee apprentice, which meant that funding could be used to revaluate the pay of other officers. It was reported was that the main issue was members of staff leaving Hillingdon to go to other Boroughs where staff were paid more. Two new role of a senior internal audit and professional internal auditor was due to be advertised at high banding salaries. It was hoped that this would attract more candidate with the relevant skills set. There was also an action plan of using Mezars and obtain seconders form there to fill the gaps in the interim. Hillingdon were keen to keep services in house.

Members requested further information or a matrix on the head count of staff and projected completed. Members attention was drawn to the Annual Internal Audit Report and Opinion Statement 2017/18, in which it was reported that 34 assurance reviews were undertaken in 2014/15, 33 in 2015’/16, 30 in 2016/17 and 25 in 2017/18.

Members questioned the delay in the introduction of universal credit. It was clarified that it had already been introduced in two postal area, one area due to go live in September 2018. There had been a dispute about whether one postal area belong to Uxbridge, and Internal Audit had been requested to come in in early August when the team was in a stronger and better position.

Since the report was drafted two further assurance reviews had concluded. In  relation to early years centres a 'No' assurance was given by Internal Audit. The high priority issues were:  a lack of procedural docs;Issues with the registration forms and contracts; and The administration of contracted sessions. The details concerning this audit would be presented in 2018/19 Q2 Progress Report to the Audit Committee.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the Internal Audit progress report for 2018/19 Quarter 1 be noted and approval be given to the Quarter 2 Internal Audit Plan for 2018/19.

2.   That the Committee noted that the coverage, performance and results of Business Assurance Internal Audit activity within this quarter.