Issue - meetings

This report sets out the Internal Audit Charter and Audit Plan for 2021/22. Approval of these documents by the Audit and Governance Committee is a requirement of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).

The report also details progress made on delivery of the 2020/21 Audit Plan for the period January to March (inclusive) 2021.  The report highlights that:

·       Seventeen audit assignments have been completed (nine ‘Reasonable’, five ‘Partial’ audit opinions and three consultancy reviews);

·       Thirty five audit assignments are in progress;

·       Implementation of audit recommendations is satisfactory.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report set out the Internal Audit Charter and Audit Plan for 2021/22 and it was explained that approval of these documents by the Audit and Governance Committee was a requirement of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS). The Audit Plan included the adjustments requested by the Committee earlier in the year.

The report also detailed progress made on delivery of the 2020/21 Audit Plan for the period January to March (inclusive) 2021 and highlighted seventeen completed audit assignments with nine ‘Reasonable’ and five ‘Partial’ audit opinions and three consultancy reviews). Thirty-five audit assignments were reported to be in progress and implementation of audit recommendations was satisfactory. It was agreed that, where it made sense to do so, and where audits were conducted on a regular annual basis, comparison of the results of annual audits would be included in future reports to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee

(a)  approve the Internal Audit Charter and agree that the Chair signs the document to record this approval (this may be a virtual sign off using email);

(b)  approve the Internal Audit Plan 2021/22;

(c)  note the 2021/22 budget for the Internal Audit service which has been previously approved by Council;

(d)  note progress made and issues arising on the delivery of the 2020/21 Internal Audit Plan.

Voting: Unanimous