Issue - meetings

(i)       in response to the Conveners statement regarding Services not meeting the previously agreed audit timescales to note that the Director of Resources provided an assurance that all Directors and Chief Officers would be held to task on the recommendations contained within audit reports and that the outstanding recommendations would be dealt with as a priority;

(ii)      to note that where Chief Officers had not progressed audit recommendations that they would be instructed to provide a report to the Committee to explain the reasons why the deadlines had not been adhered to;

(iii)      in relation to a question from the Vice Convener regarding the Craft Workers Terms and Conditions audit and whether the issues had been resolved, to note that the Chief Officer Operations and Protective Services advised that there had been no further negotiations with Trade Unions and that he would meet with the Chief Internal Auditor with a view to move the item forward; and

(iv)     to otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Internal Auditor which advised on progress made by Services with implementing recommendations that had been agreed in previous Internal Audit reports.

The Convener stated that Services had been asked at each Committee whether they would be able to meet the timescales provided in the audit reports and enquired as to why the report before the Committee contained 60 outstanding recommendations.

The Director for Resources advised that (1) the current position relating to outstanding audit recommendations was not acceptable and that he would ensure that the position improved for future reports; (2) the outstanding audit recommendations were discussed at CMT; (3) all Chief Officers had been instructed to undertake the work required to complete the audit recommendations; (4) Directors would be discussing any outstanding audit recommendations with Chief Officers during regular meetings; and (5) where there were significant delays in completing the audit recommendations that Chief Officers would be instructed to report to the Committee to provide an explanation as to why the deadlines had not been met.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in response to the Conveners statement regarding Services not meeting the previously agreed audit timescales to note that the Director of Resources provided an assurance that all Directors and Chief Officers would be held to task on the recommendations contained within audit reports and that the outstanding recommendations would be dealt with as a priority;

(ii)      to note that where Chief Officers had not progressed audit recommendations that they would be instructed to provide a report to the Committee to explain the reasons why the deadlines had not been adhered to;

(iii)      in relation to a question from the Vice Convener regarding the Craft Workers Terms and Conditions audit and whether the issues had been resolved, to note that the Chief Officer Operations and Protective Services advised that there had been no further negotiations with Trade Unions and that he would meet with the Chief Internal Auditor with a view to move the item forward; and

(iv)     to otherwise note the content of the report.

-        COUNCILLOR STEPHEN FLYNN, Convener.