Venue: Civic Suite 0.1A, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN
Contact: Mrs H Taylor, Senior Democratic Services Officer, Tel No: 01480 388008 / e-mail: Helen.Taylor@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 27th November 2013. Contact: Mrs H J Taylor 388008 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 27th November 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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Members' Interests To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
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Corporate Governance Panel - Progress Report To receive a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. Contact: Mrs H J Taylor 388008 Minutes: The Panel received a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of actions taken in response to recent discussions and decisions. Members noted that the Deputy Leader would be meeting with the Managing Director to discuss the role of Council and Scrutiny, following which a meeting would be arranged between himself and Councillor M Baker to discuss a possible review of the Council’s Procedure Rules. |
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review of fraud investigation activity To consider a report by the Corporate Fraud Manager summarising the activity of the Corporate Fraud Team over the 2012/13 financial year. Contact: Mrs J Barber / N Jennings 388105 / 388480 Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a report by the Corporate Fraud Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the work undertaken by the Corporate Fraud Team during 2012/13, including the type and number of investigations undertaken, the value of fraud identified and the cost of undertaking the work.
Members were reminded of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) intention to launch a Single Fraud Investigation Service (SFIS) by 2015, which would take over all welfare fraud investigations. A member questioned whether the Council would benefit financially from the recovery of any money by the SFIS. The Corporate Fraud Manager explained that the exact model to be adopted by the SFIS was unknown. However, the Team had received subsidy and grants from the DWP for the work undertaken during 2012/13 around benefit fraud and received further income from awards of costs and financial penalties. As a result of its success, the Team had been approached by a number of neighbouring authorities to create a shared service for fraud prevention and, the viability of such a service was being reviewed.
Having indicated their wish to receive details of the work of the team in the future on prevention and deterrent and in congratulating the Team for its work in uncovering fraudulent activity, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the work undertaken by the Fraud Team against its targets for performance in 2012/13 be noted. |
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Review of Fraud Prosecution Policy To consider a report by the Corporate Fraud Manager outlining changes to the Council’s Fraud Prosecution Policy. Contact: N Jennings 388480 Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Fraud Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking approval of changes made to the Fraud Prosecution Policy and procedure which had been prompted by changes in legislation.
Particular attention was drawn to a new provision allowing local authorities to apply civil penalties where benefit claimants fail to report changes in circumstances, which result in overpayments of benefit, but no fraud has occurred. Having been advised that the District Council had decided not to apply such penalties, as they would be both expensive to recover and impact excessively on people who may already be in financial difficulties, Members questioned how officers would distinguish between such cases and those involving fraud.
Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that the content of the new Fraud Prosecution Policy appended to the report now submitted be approved; and
(b) that the Head of Customer Services, after consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to make any minor changes to the Policy that may be considered necessary in the future. |
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Whistleblowing concerns received To receive a report by the Internal Audit Manager. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Internal Audit Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the allegations received under the Council’s whistleblowing policy during the period 1st November 2012 and 31st December 2013.
Having been advised that the number of allegations received had fallen by 50% on the previous year Members questioned the reasons for the reduction. The Panel was advised that the loss of the District-Wide publication to residents may have impacted on the numbers.
Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the content of the report now submitted be noted. |
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National Fraud Initiative To receive a report by the Internal Audit Manager on the National Fraud Initiative of 2012 and the work undertaken on resolving potentially fraudulent matches provided by the Audit Commission.
Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: With the aid of a report by the Internal Audit Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were apprised of the 2012 National Fraud Initiative, together with the work undertaken by the Council on the potentially fraudulent matches in data which had been provided by the Audit Commission. Members were informed that the exercise was conducted by the Council every two years.
Having requested clarification on the numbers investigated, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the work undertaken by the Council in respect of the 2012 National Fraud Initiative exercise be noted. |
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Internal Audit Opinions To receive a report by the Internal Audit Manager explaining the terminology associated with the annual internal audit opinion and internal audit reports. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: The Panel received a report by the Internal Audit Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) explaining the terminology associated with the annual internal audit opinion and internal audit reports.
Having been advised that opinion levels and supporting definitions are regularly reviewed and managers are required to achieve at least an “adequate” level of assurance across their systems and processes, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the contents of the report and the process followed for preparing both the annual and individual internal audit report assurance opinions be noted. |
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Internal Audit Interim Progress Report To consider a report by the Internal Audit Manager summarising the activity of the Internal Audit Service during the period 1st April to 31st December 2013. Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Internal Audit & Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the work of the Internal Audit Service during the period 1st April to 31st December 2013, together with associated performance issues.
Members were informed that the continuous audit approach to key financial systems had proved successful and would continue. The Internal Audit & Risk Manager explained that a substantial amount of unplanned time had been spent and would continue on issues relating to the One Leisure St Ives redevelopment. He also reported that the current computer audit contract with Deloitte’s had been extended until 31st January 2015 to allow for the future governance and internal audit arrangements arising from the potential out-sourcing of IMD to be clarified and agreed. With regard to the latter, Councillor P Mitchell requested that a report on the governance arrangements that are to be introduced to manage the out-sourced contract be presented to a future meeting.
Attention was drawn to the implementation of agreed audit actions and Members expressed their disappointment that only 72% of actions had been introduced on time. In the discussions that ensued, the Internal Audit & Risk Manager explained the process for seeking agreement with managers to audit actions and that, with managers both agreeing the action and the date for its introduction, the Panel considered that the target of 100% of actions introduced on time was achievable.
Having queried the reasons why the service delivery targets were not being met, the Internal Audit and Risk Manager explained that responsibility for these actions was outside of his direct control and lay with service managers. Owing to the Panel’s concerns, the Audit Manager reported that he would be reviewing the targets in September. At the same time, a request was made by Councillor K Churchill for future reports to include comparisons from previous years.
In response to Members concerns that 16% of managers had failed to respond to the six monthly establishment reports, the Accountancy Manager suggested that this be addressed by incorporating this report into the monthly budget monitoring process.
RESOLVED
that the content of the report be noted.
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External Auditors: ISA 260 Report - 2012/13 Implementation of Recommendations To receive a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) regarding the implementation of recommendations by the Council’s External Auditors. Contact: C Mason 388157 Minutes: Further to Minute No 13/36 and by way of a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) the Panel were updated on the Implementation of the External Auditors recommendations to strengthen the budgetary control and financial planning process.
RESOLVED
that the content of the report be noted. |
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Work and training programme To consider a report by the Internal Audit Manager.
Contact: D Harwood 388115 Minutes: By way of a report by the Internal Audit Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), Members received and noted a work programme for the Panel for the period March 2014 to January 2015.
Having regard to a knowledge and skills framework produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on the function and operation of audit committees in local authorities, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the CIPFA Audit Committee Guidance appended to the report now submitted be approved as the basis for a formal training programme.
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