There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to training for Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board members.

The report intimated that at the Board held on 28 August 2017, members raised a number of questions in relation to cyber security and it was agreed that further information would be provided.  The report indicated that the training briefing on risk management which was due to be given at this meeting would be replaced with a briefing on cyber security risk and control and the briefing on risk management would instead be provided as part of the all-member training programme.  A copy of the revised Audit, Risk & Scrutiny training programme was appended to the report. 

The Council’s Cyber Security Architect gave a presentation on cyber security risk and control.  The presentation gave a brief overview of cyber crime in 2016/17; outlined the real threat and exposure; detailed the future of cyber security; highlighted the Scottish Government Strategy; and showed live feed from a cyber attack map.  

DECIDED:

(a)   That the amended programme of training briefings be agreed; and

(b) That the training briefing on cyber security risk and control be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to the requirement in terms of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) that Internal Audit communicated the results of each engagement to the Board. The Appendix to the report provided a summary of findings in relation to final reports issued for those engagements completed during the period 1 July to 30 September 2017. The appendix detailed the category of assurance, service, engagement, assurance rating and gave recommended risk ratings for each engagement as either critical, important, good practice and service improvement.

The report intimated that in addition to the reports listed in the Appendix, Internal Audit had an ongoing commitment to arrange corporate and service initiatives, progress information security matters in partnership with ICT and Legal Services, provide regular advice to officers, provide internal audit services to the associated bodies for which Renfrewshire Council was the lead authority and to Renfrewshire Leisure Limited and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, coordination of the Council’s Corporate Risk Management activity and management of the counter fraud, risk management and insurance teams. 

DECIDED:   That the summary of audit findings reported during the period 1 June to 30 September 2017 be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to Audit Scotland’s published report on Equal Pay in Scottish Councils.  The report detailed audit information collected by Audit Scotland from across all Scottish councils focussing on how councils implemented the Single Status Agreement; how much councils had spent on settling equal pay claims; how councils demonstrated that they were dealing effectively with equal pay claims and minimising risks; the effectiveness of the governance and oversight arrangements of the Single Status agreement; and what lessons could be learned for the future.

In relation to the gender pay gap and the setting of targets and timescales to close the gap, it was proposed that a report outlining recommendations would be submitted to a future meeting.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:   

(a)   That the report be noted; and

(b)   That it be agreed that a report outlining recommendations relative to the gender pay gap and the setting of targets and timescales would be submitted to a future meeting.

There was submitted a report by Karen Locke, Lead Officer relative to the proposed purpose, scope and terms of reference and witnesses to be called for the review of fly-tipping in the countryside and at known fly-tipping spots.

The report intimated that the key purpose of the review would be to understand what drives individuals and organisations to fly-tip; to set out the Council’s current arrangements for addressing fly tipping; and to identify any other mitigation that could be recommended and that the Council could pursue within available resources. 

The report advised that fly-tipping was a national problem and there were a number of reasons which caused people or businesses to fly-tip.  Types of waste included general household waste, larger domestic items including fridges and mattresses, garden refuse, and commercial waste such as builders' rubble, clinical waste and tyres.   

The review would consider available research, use of social media to seek feedback from residents; focus on services currently provided by Environment & Communities; and fly-tipping prevention and detection activities.  The report proposed that witnesses/representatives from the Council’s Environment & Communities, other local authorities, and partners including Police Scotland, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland be invited to future meetings to provide information to the Board.

In addition to the witnesses suggested in the report, it was proposed that North Ayrshire Council be asked to provide evidence.  This was agreed.
 
DECIDED: 

(a)   That the purpose and scope of the review be approved;

(b)   That the provisional timescale as outlined in the appendix to the report be approved;
 
(c)   That the Lead Officer be authorised to contact any organisations recommended by the Board who might have information useful to the Board and who might be potential witnesses;

(d)   That powers be delegated to the Lead Officer in consultation with the Convener to alter the timetable having regard to the availability of evidence and witnesses throughout the course of the review;

(e)   That the Lead Officer be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to progress the review within the agreed timescales; and 

(f)   That, in addition to the witnesses suggested in the report, North Ayrshire Council be asked to provide evidence.

There was submitted a report by Colin Hunter, Lead Officer, relative to the proposed purpose, scope, terms of reference and witnesses to be called for the review of housing repairs by the Council and outside contractors.

The report intimated that the key purpose of the review would be to consider whether robust procedures were in place to ensure that repairs to Council housing stock were carried out to a high standard; were completed timeously and within set targets; to ensure that properties were not left in a dangerous condition; that satisfactory monitoring and evaluation of repairs was undertaken; and that there were measures in place to address unsatisfactory works by both external contractors and Building Services staff.  The review would focus on existing practices and strengths and would consider examples of best practice, both within Renfrewshire and at least one neighbouring authority, taking evidence from Council officials and inviting responses from Residents and Tenants Associations where they had concerns regarding the quality of repair works undertaken. The Scope of the review would identify the current processes in place within Development & Housing Services and Building Services within Environment & Communities to monitor and ensure that high standards of work were applied to repairs;  and invite evidence from at least one neighbouring authority on their approach to securing  high standards of repairs by external contractors and Council staff.

DECIDED: 

(a)   That the purpose and scope of the review be approved;

(b)   That the provisional timescale as outlined in the appendix to the report be approved;

(c)   That powers be delegated to the Lead Officer in consultation with the Convener to alter the timetable having regard to the availability of evidence and witnesses throughout the course of the review;

(d)   That the Lead Officer be authorised to contact any organisations recommended by the Board who might have information useful to the Board and who might be potential witnesses; and

(e)   That the Lead Officer be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to progress the review within the agreed timescales.