Issue - meetings

The Committee had before it a report by Gail Woodcock (Lead Transformation Manager, ACHSCP) which provided an update on the progress of the Transformation Programme.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

a)            Note the ongoing process and progress in developing and delivering the transformational programme; and

b)            Note the change requirement in relation to the provision of funding for Thinc social transport during 2017/18.

Gail Woodcock (Lead Transformation Manager, ACHSCP) advised that the report provided an update on the IJB’s six priority areas for strategic investment and outlined the governance arrangements which supported the management of the Transformation Programme. She explained that levels of expenditure; opportunities; risks; and mitigations had been set out for each priority area and noted that a number of projects had been delayed due to recruitment and capacity issues but advised that the recruitment of four programme managers would help to expedite this process. Ms Woodcock confirmed that THInc funding had been agreed by the IJB at its meeting on 15 August 2017.

Thereafter there were questions and comments on recruitment and capacity risks; the level of duplication within the governance structure, with particular reference to the roles and remits of the Strategic Planning Group and the Executive Programme Board; and the process for assessing the RAG status for the six priority areas for strategic investment;

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to note the ongoing process and progress in developing and delivering the transformational programme; and

(ii)       to request additional detail within the next Transformation Programme Update on the process for assessing the RAG status for the six priority areas for strategic investment to provide clarification and assurance to the Committee.

The Committee had before it a report by David Hughes (Chief Internal Auditor) which provided Internal Audit’s Annual Report and Internal Financial Control Statement for 2016/17.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

a)            Note the Internal Financial Control Statement for 2016/17;

b)            Note that the Chief Internal Auditor has confirmed the organisational independence of Internal Audit;

c)            Note that there has been limitation to the scope of Internal Audit work during 2016/17; and

d)            Note that no self-assessment has been undertaken as required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards as an external assessment is being completed by KPMG which will be reported to Aberdeen City Council’s Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee.

David Hughes advised Internal Audit could provide reasonable assurance on the IJB’s internal control system. He explained that he was obliged to confirm the independence of the IJB’s internal auditors and as Chief Internal Auditor he took the opportunity to do so. Mr Hughes highlighted the limitations on Internal Audit and this largely centred on the lack of access to ACC’s Care First System but informed the Committee that Internal Audit had recently reached an agreement with the Council on this issue and he was now sufficiently satisfied to advise that this limitation would no longer be included in future reports. He also noted that internal auditors were required to undertake an annual self-assessment with a periodic external assessment carried out. This would be conducted by KPMG in relation to 2016-17 and their findings were due to be reported to the Council’s Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee on 26 September 2017.

Thereafter there were questions on Internal Audit’s access to the Care First System; and the scope of Internal Audit’s remit, with a particular focus on its access to NHSG data. The Committee also discussed how audit committee meetings of the IJB and its partner organisations could be streamlined to better co-ordinate Internal Audit’s reporting arrangements.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to note the Internal Financial Control Statement for 2016/17;

(ii)       to note that the Chief Internal Auditor has confirmed the organisational independence of Internal Audit;

(iii)      to note that there had been limitation to the scope of Internal Audit work during 2016/17;

(iv)      to note that no self-assessment had been undertaken as required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards as an external assessment was being completed by KPMG which would be reported to Aberdeen City Council’s Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee; and

(v)       to request that Partnership officers liaise with colleagues from ACC and NHSG to co-ordinate the scheduling of their respective audit committees to support a more streamlined reporting process.