At the last meeting (minute 21 refers), the Committee requested a copy of the Action Plan in response to the recommendations contained within the District Auditor’s public interest report made under section 8 of the Audit Commission Act 1998, in relation to the Highways and Engineering Services Contract Award and Management.

The report of the Chief Executive with the Action Plan (Appendix 2) approved by the Cabinet on 18 October 2012 is attached.

Further to minute 21 (19 September 2012), the Chief Executive presented an Action Plan that had been prepared in response to the recommendations made in the Audit Commission’s Public Interest Report (PIR): Highways and Engineering Services Contract Award and Management dated 8 June 2012. The PIR contained 21 recommendations that sought to address the issues and concerns raised within it and the Action Plan prepared by officers had been approved by the Cabinet on 18 October 2012 (minute 113 refers), having been endorsed by the Wirral/LGA Improvement Board.

In response to comments from Members in relation to the difficulties that had been faced by whistleblowers, the Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that there was a continuing dialogue between the whistleblowers and the Chief Executive. He assured Members that whistleblowing was taken very seriously by the Council and protection was afforded to those who raised issues in good faith. Members referred also to the role to be played by the Procurement Section in the introduction of an effective performance management system from the start of a contract and expressed a view that Internal Audit should also be involved in the process.

A Member referred to a specific recommendation contained within the Action Plan that there should be a fundamental review of Internal Audit at elected member level and questioned what that involvement would be. In response, the Interim Director of Finance reported that a review of the effectiveness of Internal Audit had required a significant amount of technical preliminary work being undertaken, shared with Liverpool City Council. Following evaluation, a further report would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee, with recommendations for Members’ consideration, to determine how best to improve Internal Audit in Wirral. He welcomed the submission of further comments from Members to inform the ongoing review.

Resolved –

(1)  That the report and Action Plan be noted.

(2)  That the Review of Internal Audit be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

(3)  That a further update be presented to the next meeting of the Committee, in order for Members to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan within the agreed timescales.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive to consider and approve the Action Plan prepared in response to the recommendations made it the Audit Commission’s Public Interest Report: Highways and Engineering Services Contract Management and Award dated 8 June 2012. The Public Interest Report was detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Public Interest Report – Action Plan as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.