Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 39/08 of the Audit Manager. 

Introduction and Report Summary

The purpose of this report is to report on the work of Internal Audit in the year ended 31^st March 2008, and to advise the Committee of the Audit Manager’s opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the internal control environment.

The Contact Officer for this report is Adrianna Penn, Audit Manager for South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council, telephone (SODC) 01491 823544 and (VWHDC) 01235 547615.

Recommendation

that Members note the content of the report.

The Committee received and considered report 39/08 of the Audit Manager on the work of Internal Audit in the year ended 31 March 2008.  The report also advised of the Audit Manager’s opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the internal control environment.  The report concluded that the Audit Manager was satisfied that sufficient work had been undertaken to allow a reasonable conclusion to be drawn on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Council’s risk management, control and governance processes.  The Audit Manager’s opinion was based on the risk-based audits carried out during the year and other unplanned work on control systems. 

It was the Audit Manager’s unqualified opinion that satisfactory assurance could be placed on the Council’s risk management, control and governance processes.  There was a sound system of internal control but there were some weaknesses which might put some system objectives at risk.  Areas of concern centred on key financial systems, where Internal Audit identified significant weaknesses requiring remedial action.  Internal Audit also identified a number of opportunities for improving controls and procedures across the Council which officers generally responded to positively.

RESOLVED

that the report be noted.