Issue - meetings

To consider that appropriate arrangements are in place in order to ensure that the improvement proposals that arise from external audit reports are implemented.

DECISION:

To accept the report

Members were reminded that the item was to be considered as a governing role and not as a scrutiny role with a request that the Committee should be satisfied that there were appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that improvement proposals arising from external audits should be realised.

It was noted that the work of responding to most of the improvement proposals was continuous work and that the Governance Group chaired by the Corporate Director had been addressing the improvement proposals and the progress of the recommendations. It was reiterated, in relation to those proposals where the conclusion noted 'completed', that these categories, following feedback from the Committee, had now been separated into two parts to reflect whether the recommendations had been realised or if they were ongoing work for the department.

Gratitude was expressed for the report.

During the ensuing discussion, the following observation was noted:

·            That a number of reports were likely to return.

In response to an observation that there was a slippage to the Human Resources Information System Report, although there was a clear slippage, it was noted that the report states that it is anticipated that the work programme of responding to the recommendations would be completed by the end of March 2024. On a local level, it was added that an officer would be appointed to examine the actions and that a 'managers' response' document would be prepared to ensure Council ownership of the work; on a national level, an officer would be identified if relevant. 

RESOLVED to accept the report.