Agenda item

This report provides Members with an update on the work, outputs and performance of the Audit & Counter Fraud Team for the period 1 September to 30 November 2020.

Discussion:

This report provided details of an update on the work, outputs and performance of the Audit and Counter Fraud Team for the period 1 September to 30 November 2020.

The Head of Audit and Counter Fraud Shared Service referred to the loss of 111 days resource owing to over running reviews, sickness and the need to redeploy team members to assist with the administration of Covid 19 grant schemes. This had necessitated changes to the agreed Plan. He advised that the final outstanding review from 2019 had now been finalised. He referred to the key performance indicators for the team which reflected steady progress. He also advised on a number of matters relating to the work of the team, including counter fraud activity in association with the Cabinet Office and an update on outstanding recommendations noting that the two recommendations set out on page 130 of the agenda had been implemented subject to evidence verifying this.

Parkwood Schools Federation – in response to a question relating to the outcome of this audit review, The Head of Audit and Counter Fraud Shared Service advised that whilst the full report was not available in the public domain, this report was shared with the Assistant Director, Education and relevant Service Managers and they would share any feedback and points of learning with schools.

Shared Service – in response to a question regarding the Gravesham Borough Council element of the Shared Service, the Head of Audit and Counter Fraud Shared Service explained that the agreement stated that 64% of the resource was available to Medway and 36% to Gravesham. Any reduction in resource, such as sickness, would be shared between the two Councils proportionately. In this instance, 60 days have been agreed within Medway’s resource to be provided to help respond to the pandemic. He confirmed that planning for 2021/22 was ongoing. It was clarified that 51 days had been lost to sickness and over running reviews.

Outstanding recommendations (over 6 months) – in response to a question the Head of Audit and Counter Fraud Shared Service explained that any outstanding recommendations were chased on a monthly basis and an update report was considered by the Corporate Management Team on a quarterly basis, where the relevant service areas would be held to account.

Normal service – in response to a question the Head of Audit and Counter Fraud Shared Service explained that the Service was carrying out normal activities, however, 60 days of resource had been provided to the Economic Development team to assist with processing applications for discretionary grants and within that provision there would be peaks and troughs which allowed the Service to carry out audit work when possible. However, the Service would continue to provide assistance in response to the pandemic.

Decision:

a)    The Committee noted the outputs and performance of the Audit & Counter Fraud Service for Medway for the period 1 September to 30 November 2020as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

b)    The Committee noted the amendments to the 2020-21 workplan as detailed in section 7 of Appendix 1 to the report.