Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 14 June 2018 at 10.30am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance 

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Review of the Internal Audit Charter
Ath-sgrùdadh air a’ Chairt In-Sgrùdaidh

There is circulated Report No. AS/4/18 dated 17 May 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources.

The Committee is invited to approve the amendments to the Internal Audit Charter as outlined in the report and contained in the revised Charter in Appendix 1.  

4. Internal Audit Reviews and Progress Report
Ath-bhreithneachaidhean In-sgrùdaidh agus Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Report No. AS/5/18 dated 6 June 2018 by the Corporate Audit Manager which summarises the final reports issued since the date of the last meeting, together with details of work in progress and other information relevant to the operation of the Internal Audit Section as follows:-

• Development & Infrastructure – Developer Contributions (Reasonable Assurance)
• Care & Learning – Commissioning of Throughcare and Aftercare Services  (Reasonable Assurance)

The Committee is invited to consider the Final Reports referred to in Section 3.1 to the report, approve the deletion of the audit of recycling from the Internal Audit Plan and note the current work of the Internal Audit Section.

5. Action Tracking Report    
Aithisg a’ Leantainn Gnìomhachd

There is circulated Report No. AS/6/18 dated 6 June 2018 by the Corporate Audit Manager.

The Committee is invited to note the action tracking information provided, including the revised target dates for the completion of outstanding actions.

6. Internal Audit Annual Report 2017/18    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail In-Sgrùdaidh 2017/18

There is circulated Report No. AS/7/18 dated 6 June 2018 by the Corporate Audit Manager which includes an assessment of the Council’s framework of governance, risk management and control and the associated opinion which provides information for the Council’s Annual Governance Statement. 

The Committee is invited to note the content of the report, the audit opinion provided and to raise any relevant points with the Corporate Audit Manager. 

7. Serious and Organised Crime Course: Learning Outcomes and Actions    
Cùrsa Eucoir Throm-chùiseach agus Eagraichte: Builean Ionnsachaidh agus Gnìomhan
    
There is circulated Report No. AS/8/18 dated 5 June by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources.

The Committee is invited to:-

(i)    note and comment on the content and key messages of the Serious and Organised Crime Course delivered on 3 and 4 May 2018; and
(ii)   consider and approve the recommended actions as a consequence of the Course.    

8. Corporate Complaints Process 
Pròiseas Ghearanan Corporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/9/18 dated 14 June 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources.

The Committee is invited to:-

(i)    scrutinise the Council’s improved 2017/18 annual performance for Stage 1 (+12.2%) and Stage 2 (+17.5%) complaints;
(ii)   recognise that the number of complaints received is a low volume at 1.5% within the context of the scale of the Council’s customer base and the scope of services provided;
(iii)  support Officers’ continued participation in the Local Authority Complaint Handlers Network;
(iv)   note the remit of the cross-Service Complaints Co-ordinators’ Group and the ongoing sharing of leading practice in order to further improve corporate performance for front line resolution (Stage 1) and investigation (Stage 2); and
(v)    note the progress to date on the LEAN review. 

9. Audit Scotland: Council’s Use of Arm’s Length Organisations
Aithisgean Sgrùdaidh bhon Taobh A-muigh

There is circulated Report No. AS/10/18 dated 5 June 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources which refers to the following national report by Audit Scotland which has been issued since the last meeting of this Committee:-

Council’s Use of Arms-Length Organisations (circulated separately)

The Committee is invited to note and comment on the national report in the local context.