Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2022, attached.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2022 be signed as a correct record, save that at Minute *28 Election of Chair, line 2 should read Torbay Council and not Devon County Council.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Report of the Director of Finance (DF/22/100), attached.

The Committee noted the Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DF/22/100) which summarised activity in the first six months of 2022/23, recognising the continuing challenges brought about by national and global events, and the impact that this was having on the work of the team.

The Report also provided progress and update on changes to staffing and an update regarding further work gained in several areas.

Highlighted points and discussion included:

-       The Partnership continued to remain on target to achieve a balanced budget at the end of the year.

-       As ongoing EU Grant work reduced during 2023/24, the Partnership would revise its Education Assurance offering and would seek further work amongst Multi-Academy Trusts.

-       Some new Parish Council work had been taken up.

-       Customer Survey results showed 98% were’ satisfied’ overall.

-       ‘Internal’ cases referred to in the Counter Fraud update included, for example, theft or loss of IT equipment.

Report of the Director of Finance (DF/22/101), attached.

The Committee noted the Report of the Director of Finance and Public Value (DF/22/101), which summarised the budget position on the activity in the first six months of 2022/23, recognising the challenge brought about by the wider economic context, in which the Devon Audit Partnership along with Partners, continued to face pressures on the budget for 2022/23. 

Headline pressures in 2022/23 included the Pay Award, and Premises and IT increases in-year including one-off costs.

The overall position was expected to be balanced by the end of the financial year, in part due to one-off savings, however, the pressures that have materialised during 2022/23 would also have an impact on the 2023/24 budget, due to be presented to the next Committee meeting.

Awareness paper.

The Head of the Partnership shared an image on the ‘Culture Iceberg’ (from the Cornwall County Council Internal Audit team) and promoted the importance of having the right culture in order to succeed and move forward.

Briefing attached.

Annual briefing report, shared for information, which highlighted key risk areas to help internal auditors prepare their independent risk assessment work, annual planning and audit scoping.

To agree future meeting dates:

9 March 2023, 13 July 2023 and 23 November 2023.      

RESOLVED that future meetings be 9 March 2023, 13 July 2023 and 23 November 2023.