Issue - meetings

To receive an External Quality Assessment of Conformance to the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.

The Committee considered a report on the External Quality Assessment of Conformance to the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·         The Shared Internal Audit Service had been created in 2014.  A self-assessment was completed annually. 

·         The Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) required periodic self-assessments and an assessment by an external person at least every five years.

·         The overall conclusion had been that the service generally conformed to the requirements of PSIAS and the Local Government Application Note.

·         The Committee noted the summary of observations, recommendations and suggestions.  There had been one incident of non-compliance around the Internal Audit Charter.  An updated Charter would be presented at the next Committee meeting.  Members felt that it was reassuring that only one ‘red’ had been identified.

·         Members thanked the Audit and Investigation Senior Specialist and the team for their hard work.

·         The Assistant Director Governance stated that the assessment would assist in the service winning further external business.

·         An action plan had been produced.  Councillor Smith commented that many of the proposed completion dates were July and August.  He requested an update on the completion of the actions at the November committee meeting.

·         Councillor Whittle questioned whether the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council Audit Committee would also receive the report and was informed that they would.

RESOLVED:  That the results of the external assessment of the Shared Audit and Investigations against the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards, be noted.