Decision details

The committee received and considered report 47/09 of the Audit Manager which set out the detailed audits of council services completed during the second quarter (July to September) of 2009/10.  There were nine audit reports.  The committee concentrated on those audits with limited assurance ratings, of which there were three.  The remainder had received satisfactory assurance ratings.  There were also four follow-up audit reports, all with satisfactory assurance ratings. 

Council charges 2008/09 – limited assurance rating awarded

In answer to a point made by one councillor, the strategic director accepted that it was important to cover service costs when setting charges. 

Direct Services Organisation overtime 2009/10 – limited assurance

Councillors noted that the overtime rates for the Vale’s Direct Services Organisation staff were higher than other out-of-hours staff. 

Records management 2009/10 – limited assurance

In answer to a question from one councillor, it was reported that if there were no legal requirements, each service area could establish how long its documents were kept.  It was accepted that a council policy was needed to cover this.  Councillors were reassured that important historical documents were kept, such as minutes of council meetings.  Councillors noted that a data protection audit and freedom of information audit had been undertaken last year and an information governance audit was being undertaken this year. 

Councillors queried the maintenance of databases commenting that managers should remove staff from their databases once they had left the council’s employment. It was noted that a reminder system was in place to assist with this.

RESOLVED

that the report be noted.