Agenda item

Internal Audit & Assurance Plan for 2020/21

Minutes:

The Deputy Head of Audit said that due to an administrative error Appendix I the Annual Assurance Plan 2020/21 had not been included with the agenda pack.  The Appendix had that day been emailed to Committee Members and was tabled.  In order for the report to be given full consideration the report was presented to the Committee in presentation style to give Members the opportunity to challenge and ask questions.

 

The Deputy Head of Audit introduced the Internal Audit and Assurance Plan for 2020/21 which set-out the resources available through the Audit Partnership and the specific audit activities and projects to be delivered over the course of the year.

 

The Deputy Head of Audit reported that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) had just completed the External Quality Assessment of the service, and that the findings would be reported to the Committee in July 2020.  The assessment included a review of how the audit plan was compiled and risk assessed.

 

The Deputy Head of Audit advised that the Partnership was required to give assurances to the Committee that the Plan was compiled independently of the Council and consider the following key points: operational and strategic risks; corporate risks; and Sector risks and global risks.  He stated that Cybersecurity; waste management; and climate change were all significant risks and that the audit plan included work in those areas to provide assurances to management and the Committee.  He reported that the Head of Audit Partnership’s view was that the Partnership had sufficient resources and expertise to deliver the plan, and drew attention to page 6 which advised that 450 audit days were allocated for Swale.

 

The Deputy Head of Audit explained that the Partnership also applied their own risk assessment based on four key areas: oversight risk; change risk; audit knowledge; and fraud risk.  The Deputy Head of Audit referred to page 15 of the report which listed the Council’s “Audit Universe” a running list of all the services that the Council might examine.  The aim for the audit plan was to deliver 100% of the high priority projects, and over 50% of the medium projects.  The Committee would be updated on progress throughout the year.  The Deputy Head of Audit asked Members to consider and approve the document.

 

In response to queries from Members, the Deputy Head of Audit explained that they used a risk-matrix to ensure that the audit plan risks were appropriately weighted.  The Audit universe included shared services, and as an example, Building Control would refer specifically to the service provided at Swale.  With regard to coronavirus, this would be considered under the Council’s business continuity arrangements.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)          That the Internal Audit and Assurance Plan for 2020/21 be approved.

(2)          That the Head of Audit Partnership’s view that the Partnership currently has sufficient resources to deliver the plan and a robust Head of Audit Opinion be noted.

(3)          That the Head of Audit Partnership’s assurance that the plan is compiled independently and without inappropriate influence from management be noted.

Supporting documents: