Issue - meetings

The attached report provides the findings from Grant Thornton’s review of IT general controls for BCP Council applications identified as relevant to the financial audit.

The report includes an overview of the IT audit findings which were assessed as 4 ‘Significant Deficiency’, 7 ‘Deficiency’ and 1 ‘Improvement Opportunity’ issues.

Management have provided a response to all issues raised.

The Acting Assistant Chief Financial Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. Attached to the report was the findings of External Auditors Grant Thornton’s review and audit of IT general controls for BCP Council applications identified as relevant to the financial audit.

The report included an overview of the IT audit findings, a summary and detail of each finding, a description of the work undertaken and the recommendations for control improvements. It was reported that there were four assessments of ‘Significant Deficiency’, seven of ‘Deficiency’ and one assessment of ‘Improvement Opportunity’.

The External Auditors explained the background to the audit and its timing and provided information for the Committee about the increasing level of sampling that was now being required.

The Committee was advised of the Council’s management response to all the issues raised within the audit. These comments were set within the context of the ongoing programme of financial systems improvements following the combining of three legacy Councils into the one single Council. It was confirmed that, where practical, immediate action had been taken and plans put in place for other actions and Members were satisfied that an appropriate response was in place. An update on progress with implementation would be circulated to Members or included within the next quarterly report to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee notes Grant Thornton’s Core Financial System IT Audit Report and the Council’s response to the issues raised.

Voting: Unanimous