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, 13 June 2019 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. Appointments to Sub-Committee, Working Groups etc                               
Cur an Dreuchd gu Fo-Chomataidhean, Buidhnean-obrach is eile

Members will recall that, at the last Audit and Scrutiny Committee on 27 March 2019, it was agreed that the Committee would be represented on the City Region Deal Monitoring Group.  

In this regard, an update will be provided at the meeting.   

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

There is circulated Report No. AS/6/19 dated 4 June 2019 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:-

• Corporate Resources Service – Financial Assessments (Substantial assurance) 
• Care & Learning Service – Investigation into fraudulent expenditure claims in Social Work office, System Weaknesses Report (Limited Assurance)
• Corporate Resources Service – Continuous Auditing Exercises (Reasonable Assurance) 

The Committee is invited to consider the Final Reports referred to in Section 3.1 of the report and note the current work of the Internal Audit Section outlined at section 4 of the report and performance information provided at section 5.

5. Action Tracking Report     
Aithisg a’ Leantainn Gnìomhachd

There is circulated Report No. AS/7/19 dated 4 June 2019 by the Corporate Audit Manager.

The Committee is invited to note and comment upon the action tracking information provided including the revised target dates for the completion of outstanding actions.

6. Internal Audit Annual Report 2018/2019    
Aithisg Bhliadhnail In-Sgrùdaidh 2018/2019

There is circulated Report No. AS/8/19 dated 31 May 2019 by the Corporate Audit Manager. 

The Committee is invited to note the content of the report, the audit opinion provided and to raise any relevant points with the Corporate Audit Manager.

7. Council Governance Review      
Ath-sgrùdadh Riaghlachais Comhairle

There is circulated Report No. AS/9/19 dated 30 May 2019 by the Corporate Audit/Performance Manager. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    agree the proposals set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report for submission to Highland Council on 27 June 2019 for approval to implement from 19 September 2019; the next scheduled Audit & Scrutiny Committee.
ii.   note that further work is required to develop core competencies and training and this will require further engagement with Members as part of a wider programme of training and development.
iii.  note that a further Member seminar has been arranged later in June 2019 which will help to inform the above proposals prior to their submission to Highland Council for approval.

8. Code of Corporate Governance      
Còd Riaghladh Corporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/10/19 dated 3 June 2019 by the Head of Corporate Governance. 

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the progress on delivering the 2018/19 Code of Corporate Governance
ii.   approve the 2019/20 Code of Corporate Governance

9. Commissioner For Ethical Standards in Public Life/Standards Commission: Councillors’ Code of Conduct – Investigation into Complaints    
Coimiseanair airson Inbhean Beusail ann am Beatha Phoblaich/Coimisean nan Inbhean: Còd Giùlain nan Comhairlichean – Sgrùdadh Ghearanan 

There is circulated Report No. AS/11/19 dated 3 June 2019 by the Head of Corporate Governance. 

The Committee is invited to note that, in respect of the complaints against Highland Council Members, concluded during 2018/19, the Commissioner has found there to have no breaches of the Code of Conduct.

10. Corporate Complaints Process Report      
Aithisg Ghearanan Corporra

There is circulated Report No. AS/12/19 dated 30 May 2019 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Resources.  

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    scrutinise the Council’s continued improving annual performance for Stage 1 (+2.8%) and Stage 2 (+0.9%) complaints; 
ii.   recognise the Council’s continued improved performance since 2017, +15% for Stage 1 and +18.4% at Stage 2;
iii.  note that 65% of complaints were received via a digital channel (website and email) supporting the corporate digital agenda;
iv.   note that the number of complaints received is a low volume at 1% within the context of the scale of the Council’s customer base and the scope of services provided;
v.    support officers continued participation in the Local Authority Complaint Handlers Network; 
vi.   recognise the positive contribution the cross-Service Complaint’s Co-ordinators group is making to national policy/guidance set by the SPSO;
vii.  be aware of the positive impact the cross-Service Complaints Co-ordinators’ group is having on the improving performance within Services and the Council’s overall performance; and 
viii. note the implementation of the outcomes from the LEAN review. 

11. Scottish Public Service Ombudsman Cases Received by the Council – Update Report    
Cùisean Ombudsman Sheirbheisean Poblach na h-Alba a Fhuaireadh leis a’ Chomhairle – Aithisg as Ùr

There is circulated Report No. AS/13/19 dated 3 June 2019 by the Chief Executive.

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