Agenda item

The Finance Manager and Stuart Cutts, Assistant Director-Audit Assurance at Veritau, were present to answer any questions or queries.

Members asked for clarification regarding the internal audit plan of works that was prepared on the basis of a  risk assessment,  and whether it was the same as the risk register that was in the corporate strategy, and how did it come about in deciding what the priorities were, and there was some concern on the amount of work on the work programme for the year.

The Officer confirmed that the risk assessment came about following conversations with Stuart from the Auditors, the Finance Manager and the Monitoring Officer throughout the year regarding areas that was felt needed attention as the Finance team is small and we view the Internal Auditors as supplementary to the team . As regards to work prioritisation, 35 days are allocated each year to finalising the audit with Stuart, but they have restructured the 2025/26 plan for next year so it is not as onerous, alongside year end..

Members asked whether the Authority liaised with the External Auditors on what the Authority was going to focus on with the Internal Auditor and also whether the Internal Auditor was asked to look at the reserve appropriation?  The Officer reported that the reserve appropriation had been completed by the Internal Audit on the 24/25 plan  and that that report would be presented to Members in July. As regards to External Audit, the External Auditor confirmed that mandatory risk controls is a mandatory risk on all audits and it wasn’t something that was particularly lacking at the Authority.

The recommendation as set out in the report was moved, seconded, voted on and carried.

RESOLVED:

That the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 be approved.