Agenda item
WAO REGULATORY PROGRAMME FOR PERFORMANCE AUDIT 2012-13
To consider a
report by the Corporate Improvement Team Manager (copy enclosed) on the
Regulatory Programme for Performance Audit 2012/13 for the Wales Audit Office.
9.35 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.
Minutes:
A report by the Corporate Improvement Team Manager, on the Regulatory Programme
for Performance Audit 2012/13 for the Wales Audit Office (WAO) had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.
The report provided details
of the performance audit work to be carried out at Denbighshire by the WAO
during 2012-13. The regulatory programme
outlined work to be delivered by and on behalf of the Auditor General under the
Local Government (
The Draft Regulatory
Programme had been discussed with relevant officers, including the Head of
Business Planning & Performance and the Corporate Improvement Team Manager,
prior to approval by the Chief Executive.
The outputs from performance audit work included reports from regulatory
bodies, such as the WAO, and “the risk of significantly negative reports from
external regulators” had been identified as a risk on the Council’s Corporate
Risk Register. The Corporate Performance
Management Framework being the main control in place to manage the risk, and
the following actions had been identified as being required to further reduce
the residual risk:-
·
Develop a more formal framework for co-ordinating self-assessments to
support regulatory activities.
·
Implement new approach to target setting, as agreed by SLT, for the
2012-13 Service Plans.
·
Deliver performance management training for new Members, including
target setting.
The WAO Representative (GB) introduced the report and
provided background information pertaining to the Performance Audit and
Financial aspects of the work undertaken WAO in respect of Denbighshire. He outlined the key areas to note which
included:-
-
Provision of
Reassurance
-
Suggestions for
Areas of Improvement
-
Identifying Good
Practice
-
Requirements
under the Welsh Government Measures
A
detailed summary of the Regulatory Programme for Performance Audit 2112-13 was
provided and included the following main areas:-
-
Performance audit work at Denbighshire,
under the Local Government (
-
The Improvement Assessment, examining the
Corporate Plan.
-
Other work the Audit General uses to inform
his performance audit work at the Council.
-
The financial audit work of the Appointed
Auditor.
-
The work of relevant regulators.
-
The Auditor General’s programme of local
performance audit work at individual NHS bodies.
-
The Auditor General’s programme of
value-for-money studies.
Proposals
for this year’s local work had been set out in Exhibit 1 of the report and
particular attention had been invited to issues relating to Collaboration,
Homelessness and Review of arrangements by the Council to deliver services that
were efficient and well-managed.
A
summary of the following Appendices was
provided by the WAO Representative (GB)
Appendix
1 - Wales Audit Office performance work planned
for 2012/13.
Appendix
2 - Roles and Responsibilities.
Appendix
3 - Audit General’s performance audit team.
Appendix
4 - Fees.
Appendix
5 - Audit General’s programme of value-for-money
studies.
The
following issues were raised by Members of the committee and responses
provided:-
-
With regard to Appendix 1, it was explained
that ideally that the delivery of the annual work programme should be completed
by the 31st March. However,
certain aspects were governed by outside influences where other areas were
statutory governed.
-
The WAO were currently not aware of any
planned Estyn Inspections.
-
Reference was made to the WAO’s responsibility to audit of the Statutory Statement of
Accounts. It was explained that it would
be important that the Corporate Governance Committee were fully aware of the
whole package of work present by the WAO.
-
A report in respect of the work undertaken
by the WAO for the Auditor General could be presented to the Corporate
Governance Committee for information purposes.
It was confirmed that certain aspects of the work would be a statutory
programme of work which would feature in the forward work programme.
-
It was explained that the work undertaken by
the WAO provided both the Authority and the tax payer with assurances in
respect of performance and financial management arrangements.
-
It had been reported in January, 2012 that
progress in respect of the Rhyl Going Forward project
would be examined in September, 2012.
-
In reply to a question on Improvement
Studies with regard to the effectiveness of scrutiny, it was explained that the
format to be utilised would be adopted by all Authorities in
-
Details in respect of examining
collaborative working with outside bodies, particular reference being made to Betsi Cadwaladr, were outline
with regard to the work to be scoped.
Following
further discussion, it was:-
RESOLVED – that the Corporate Governance Committee receives the report and notes the Regulatory Programme, attached at Appendix I.
Supporting documents:
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