| 510 | RECORD OF THE MEETING |
| | | The record of the meeting held on 27 September 2007 was signed by the Chairman as correct. |
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| 511 | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE |
| | | Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jarrett. |
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| 512 | URGENT MATTERS |
| | | Councillor Griffiths announced that he felt there should be an item for the next meeting regarding housing procurement. |
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| 513 | DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST |
| | | Councillor Griffiths declared a personal interest in any reference to the Primary Care Trust, but particularly in relation to item 5(C) Outcomes of internal audit activity, by virtue of his membership of the Trust. |
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| 514 | OUTCOMES OF HOUSING BENEFIT COUNTER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager gave a brief introduction to the report and stated that, in response to Members' request at previous meetings, the idea of a `naming and shaming' policy had been referred to the Corporate Regulation Group. This matter would be considered in connection with all other enforcement matters, which were being reviewed in the light of changes to the regulatory compliance code. Should there be any proposals arising from that Group a report would be submitted to the Cabinet.
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| With regard to the concerns expressed about the legal department progressing prosecutions of alleged fraud he stated that there was a marked improvement in this situation. |
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| | > Housing and council tax benefit investigations (pdf file 30.4kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | | (a) | Members noted progress in investigating benefit fraud in accordance with the approved sanction policy. |
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| 515 | INTERNAL AUDIT WORK PROGRAMME 2007/2008 |
| | Discussion: |
| | | Concern was expressed about the vacancy in audit left by one of the auditors going on maternity leave. The view was expressed that, in the light of the reorganisation of directorates and services being undertaken at present and recent problems highlighted in the housing section, it was vital for the audit section to be fully staffed particularly bearing in mind the section was under resourced compared to other authorities. A request was made that further details are provided to the next meeting on the resourcing of the audit section compared to other authorities.
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| The Chief Finance Officer stated that there was no budget to cover employing a member of staff to cover the maternity leave. Members suggested that an accountant might be seconded to the audit section during this period and if necessary this could be shared within the accountancy section to minimise the impact. The Head of Finance pointed out that there was no capacity for this to happen without there being an impact on other important work.
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| In response to a question the Audit Services Manager stated that the main items carried out on behalf of the external auditors were:
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| | • | Council tax
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| | • | Housing and council tax benefit
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| | • | Housing rents
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| | • | Business rates (NNDR)
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| but they would also have an interest in all the assurance and governance work as set out in the plan.
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| The Chief Finance Officer, in response to a query, undertook to report back details of the external auditor's work on pooled budgets after the outcome had been reported to the Learning Disability Partnership Board. |
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| | > Internal audit programme 2007-08 (pdf file 50.4kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | | (a) | The Committee noted progress in achieving the 2007/2008 internal audit work programme;
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| | (b) | the Chief Finance Officer and the Audit Services Manager were requested to find ways to keep the audit function operating at full strength either by use of internal resources or, if necessary, by reference to the Cabinet/Council to enable budget for external resources to be provided;
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| | (c) | a report on the outcome of the external auditor's work on pooled budgets should be brought back to this Committee after it had been considered by the Learning Disability Partnership Board;
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| | (d) | a report is brought to the next meeting on the resourcing of the audit section compared to other authorities.
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| 516 | OUTCOMES OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTIVITY |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager introduced a report setting out the outcomes of internal audit activity.
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| Discussion took place about the reference in the report to a number of recruitments which had taken place without rigorous testing of the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks having taken place. A suggestion was made that all members of staff and councillors should be CRB checked and that these details were linked to payroll to ensure that only those members of staff and councillors who have an up to date check would be paid.
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| In relation to the audit on licensing it was requested that officers deal sensitively with situations where, following the death of a license holder, an interim authority notice needs to be provided to avoid placing additional stress on the bereaved. In response to a question, the Audit Services Manager agreed to provide information on the leaflet issued by the Council.
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| Reference was made to the findings in the report that three Service Support Assistants had not been removed from the list of authorised bank signatories. Further information on this was requested in the form of a briefing note. |
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| | > Outcomes of audit activity (pdf file 79.4kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | | (a) | Members noted the outcome of Internal Audit's work;
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| | (b) | a briefing note was requested on the Imprest Account failings.
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| 517 | EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC |
| | | The Committee agreed to ask the press and public to leave the meeting because the following item contained information of a personal nature, and information relating to the prevention, investigation or prosecution of a crime, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 7 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. |
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| | > Exclusion of the press and public (pdf file 9.9kb) |
| 518 | IRREGULARITY REPORT |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager gave a brief introduction to a report setting out a major irregularity investigation and explained the actions taken to deal with the situation. |
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| | > Irregularity report (pdf file 9.8kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | | (a) | The Committee noted the outcome of the irregularity investigation and the actions taken;
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| | (b) | a detailed report should be brought to the next meeting on the implications of the findings in relation to the operation of the current housing maintenance contract, with reference to the issues identified in the exempt appendix to the minutes. |
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