Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 23 November 2017 at 10.30am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance 

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Review of Corporate Risk Register
Ath-sgrùdadh Clàr Cunnairt Chorporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/15/17 dated 30 October 2017 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources. 

In this connection, a Presentation will be undertaken at the meeting by Mr A Ross, Senior Strategic Risk Management Consultant, Zurich Municipal, on Corporate Risk Management.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the refreshed Corporate Risk Register provided at Appendix 1 and consider the risk profile at Appendix 2.

The Committee is also asked to note that six monthly reviews of the Corporate Risk Register will continue to be reported each March and September and that an Officer Group has been established on corporate risk management.   

4. Internal Audit Reviews and Progress Report
Ath-bhreithneachaidhean In-sgrùdaidh agus Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Report No. AS/16/17 dated 14 November 2017 by the Corporate Audit Manager which summarises the final reports issued since the date of the last meeting, together with details of work in progress and other information relevant to the operation of the Internal Audit Section, as follows:-

• Development & Infrastructure Service – Renewable Heat Incentive Income Scheme - follow up (Full Assurance)
• Care & Learning/Development & Infrastructure Services – Cromarty Primary School – Review of Extension & Refurbishment Project (Limited Assurance)
• Development & Infrastructure Service – Leader Programme 2016/17 (Substantial Assurance) 

The Committee is invited to consider the Final Reports and note the current work of the Internal Audit Section as detailed in the report.

5. Action Tracking Report        
Aithisg a’ Leantainn Gnìomhachd

There is circulated Report No. AS/17/17 dated 13 November 2017 by the Corporate Audit Manager.

The Committee is invited to note the action tracking information provided within the report.

6. Code of Corporate Governance
Còd Riaghladh Corporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/18/17 dated 5 October 2017 by the Head of Corporate Governance. 
 
The Committee is invited to note the progress on delivering the 2016/17 Code of Corporate Governance and note and comment on the 2017/18 Code as circulated. 

7. Corporate Complaints Process
Aithisg Ghearanan Corporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/19/17 dated 14 November 2017 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise the Council’s 6 month performance for Stage 1 and Stage 2 complaints;  
ii. recognise that the number of complaints received is a low volume within the context of the scale of the Council’s customer base and the scope of services provided; 
iii. support Officers continued participation in the Local Authority Complaint Handlers Network;
iv. agree that Officers undertake a review of the questions relating to complaints within the Highland Council’s Annual Survey of Performance and Attitudes as detailed in Paragraph 7.6 of the report; and
v. note that the LEAN review of the Corporate Complaints process is ongoing.

8. Annual Report of Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) Cases determined in 2016/17A
Cùisean Ombudsman Sheirbheisean Poblach na h-Alba a Fhuaireadh leis a’ Chomhairle – Aithisg as Ùr

There is circulated Report No. AS/20/17 dated 13 November 2107 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to consider the outcomes of the SPSO cases and note that actions have been taken in response to the Ombudsman’s recommendations and all of the cases have now been closed.