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Issue - meetings

SIAS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27

 

 

Meeting: 09/09/2026 - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Item 25)

25 SIAS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27 pdf icon PDF 511 KB

REPORT OF THE SHARED INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE

 

To receive the Internal Audit Service progress report 206/27 of the SIAS.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

 

(1)   Noted the SIAS Progress Report for the period to 25 August 2026.

 

(2)   Noted the implementation status of the reported high-priority recommendations.

 

(3)   Noted the Global Internal Audit Standards External Quality Assessment Briefing Paper.

 

(4)   Approved the amendment to the Audit Charter.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To report progress made by the SIAS in delivering the Council’s Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 as 25 August 2026.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 48 minutes 22 seconds

 

The Head of Assurance Services (HCC) and Client Audit Manager (NHDC) presented the report entitled ‘SIAS Progress Report 2026/27’ and advised that:

 

·             Four new final reports had been issued, and one new high priority recommendation had arisen in the Health and Safety Audit, which was to reinstate the annual fire drill into Council buildings that had warranted it.

·             No amendments had been made to the Audit Plan, but Members should be mindful of the time allocated to Local Government Reorganisation, which may not be required.

·             Key Performance Indicators were on track, and only one audit for EV charging was behind schedule.

·             A clarification on the responsibilities of Committee Members was detailed in the report, and the proposed amendment to the Audit Charter relating to this would be implemented if Members approved the recommendations.

·             The External Quality Assessment was due in December, and the assessors for this may choose the Council as part of this, which would likely require the Chair of the Committee to talk to them.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Paul Ward, the Director – Resources advised that he needed to clarify which department was responsible for signing off the high priority actions relating to Business Continuity Planning.

 

Councillor Paul Ward proposed and Councillor Ruth Brown seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

 

(1)   Noted the SIAS Progress Report for the period to 25 August 2026.

 

(2)   Noted the implementation status of the reported high-priority recommendations.

 

(3)   Noted the Global Internal Audit Standards External Quality Assessment Briefing Paper.

 

(4)   Approved the amendment to the Audit Charter.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To report progress made by the SIAS in delivering the Council’s Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 as 25 August 2026.