Issue - meetings

The Committee had before it a report by Alex Stephen which presented the Committee with the external audit annual report for discussion and noting.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee note the content of the Annual Audit Report for the year ended 31 March 2018, as at appendix A.

Natalie Dyce (IJB External Audit) advised that today’s report would complete the 2017-18 annual audit process and she provided an overview of the Partnership’s mainstream budget deficits, and its balance and  reserves position. Ms Dyce then drew Members attention to External Audit’s conclusions and highlighted its findings in terms of four audit dimensions:-

With regards to (1) Financial Sustainability, the auditors took the view that strong transformation and governance arrangements were in place to close the budget gap and they endorsed the development of a Medium-Term Financial Strategy as good practice;

With regards to (2) Governance and Transparency, the auditors found that effective decision making processes were in place following work with the Good Governance Institute and they were satisfied with the level of challenge at Board meetings. The auditors also welcomed that IJB and APS Committee meetings were open to the public and press and papers were accessible to the public online.

With regards to (3) Financial Management, the auditors were content with the quality and frequency of financial reporting to the IJB and were satisfied that the Partnership had appropriate financial capacity in place. They also noted that no audit adjustments had been reported which demonstrated that the Partnership’s financial arrangements were robust; and

With regards to (4) Value for Money, the auditors had been provided with evidence which demonstrated the Partnership’s efforts to deliver services differently through its Transformation Programme and they noted that an audit recommendation on Workforce Planning had been agreed by the Partnership with a target date for completion of  31 March 2019.

Thereafter there were questions and comments on (1) External Audit’s assessment of the Partnership’s financial sustainability; and (2) how the Partnership could effectively demonstrate the achievement of value for money.

The Committee resolved:-

To note the content of the Annual Audit Report for the year ended 31 March 2018, as at appendix A.