Issue - meetings

(i)       to note the level of assurance provided by each ALEO on governance arrangements, risk management and financial management;

(ii)      to note that the report incorporated Hub officers’ initial levels of assurance of the governance arrangements, risk management and financial management of bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited; and

(iii)      to note that the Assurance Hub officers and ALEO Service Leads would discuss any outstanding issues specified in the appendices and identified at the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee with ALEO representatives, with a view to further improving the assessment ratings at the next Hub meeting.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Commissioning which provided assurance on the governance arrangements, risk management and financial management of Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEO’s) as detailed within the ALEO Assurance Hub’s Terms of Reference.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      notes the level of assurance provided by each ALEO on governance arrangements, risk management and financial management;

(b)      notes that the report incorporated Hub officers’ initial levels of assurance of the governance arrangements, risk management and financial management of bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited; and

(c)      notes that the Assurance Hub officers and ALEO Service Leads would discuss any outstanding issues specified in the appendices and identified at the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee with ALEO representatives, with a view to further improving the assessment ratings at the next Hub meeting.

In response to a request from a member, the Interim Chief Officer – Governance (Assurance) agreed that for future reports the appendices would contain a title.

In response to a question relating to Bon Accord care and the financial information presented in the additional circulation, to note that there was a typographical error and that the financial year should have been for 2022-2023.

In response to a question relating to Bon Accord Care and the increase in demand for services, the Director for Commissioning advised that with the demographics of the city, the demand for care services and in particular specialised services had been increasing and that these were being managed via the strategic plan that had been approved by Bon Accord Care recently, a copy of which could be circulated to the Committee for their information.

In response to a question relating to the low risk rating at Appendix H – Sport Aberdeen and whether the Council were required to notify Auditors of the Judicial Review relating to the closure of Bucksburn Swimming Pool, the Interim Chief Officers – Governance advised that there was no requirement to notify auditors of the Judicial Review process and that until such time as that process had concluded the risk rating remained at low.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained in the report.