Further to minute 116 (Cabinet – 22 September 2011) and in response to the findings of the AKA Report on Corporate Governance, the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Finance presented an initial report which outlined areas of work that Internal Audit could include in the Annual Plan to strengthen further the corporate governance of the Council. The report had been considered by the Corporate Governance Committee on 26 October 2011 (minute 6 refers), who had agreed that external perspectives of the workload, organisation and structure of Internal Audit should be obtained, the objective being to ensure a fit for purpose Internal Audit service, both in terms of planned work and skills availability, and to ensure that the management of authority responded appropriately to recommendations.

At its meeting on 16 November 2011 (minute 13 refers), the Corporate Governance Committee had agreed a number of Key Lines of Enquiry, one of which related to the Review of Internal Audit. In response to comments from Members, the Deputy Director of Finance commented upon the process for the procurement of external review. The LGA would be contacted to seek advice and the he commented that it was essential for a review to be undertaken by a body with a detailed knowledge of local authority internal audit work. As Lead Officer for the KLOE for the Review of Internal Audit, the Deputy Director of Finance proposed to present an update to the next meeting and anticipated that the external reviewer would attend the March 2012 meeting of the Committee. In order to ensure that Members were kept up to date in relation to the process for appointment of an external reviewer, the Chair requested that the Deputy Director meet with group spokespersons as necessary.

Resolved – That the report be noted.