Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would provide an update by email relating to the status of hydrogen cars;

(ii)      to note the progress of the Internal Audit Plan; and

(iii)      to note the progress that management had made with implementing recommendations agreed in Internal Audit reports.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Internal Auditor which provided an update on the work of Internal Audit since the last update to Members.  The report contained details of progress against the approved Internal Audit plans, audit recommendations follow ups, and other relevant matters for the attention of the Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the progress of the Internal Audit Plan; and

(b)      note the progress that management had made with implementing recommendations agreed in Internal Audit reports.

In response to a question relating to the Review of Internal Audit methodology and the timescale for the briefing session for members, the Assurance Manager advised that it would be before the end of the year.

In response to a question relating to audit AC2313 and the underlying cause in delays to completing the transformation for fleet and roads, the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning advised the allocation of resources and that there was some complexity in that three clusters were involved to complete the recommendation.

In response to a question relating to audit AC2417 and the reason why the dates for completion had been amended, the Chief Officer – Digital Technology advised that changes across the infrastructure would not be implemented whilst new firewalls were being installed and that staff had been working with services through the issues they had been experiencing.

In response to a question relating to audit AC2313 and the different types of vehicles and whether there was a specific risk with new technologies, the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning advised that progress had been made with purchasing of new vehicles.  He further advised that the experience staff had on using the vehicles helped to identify vehicles which are assessed and evaluated. 

In response to a question relating to the supply of hydrogen and was this a liability having vehicles on the balance sheet not being used, the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning advised that commercial vehicles were duel fuel so would still operate regardless of the hydrogen supplies and that hydrogen cars which were European funded that were part of the co-wheels and now the enterprise fleet would be handed back if they reached a date they were no longer operable.

In response to a question relating to audit AC2514 and whether the cluster risk registers action was on target, the Assurance Manager advised that these were now complete with updates provided to Internal Audit.

In response to a question relating to audit AC2313 and whether the due date of May 2026 was realistic, the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning advised that this was the goal that the service were working towards to complete the action.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning would provide an update by email relating to the status of hydrogen cars;

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.