There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to Audit Scotland Reports – Audit of Housing Benefit Risk Assessment Report and Housing Benefit Performance Audit 2017/18 – Annual Update Report.

The report advised that the Council’s external auditor, Audit Scotland, was required as part of its remit to carry out Housing Benefit Audit Risk Assessments across Local Authorities in Scotland. The main objective of the risk assessment was to determine the extent to which the benefit service was meeting its obligations to achieve continuous improvement in all its  activities.  The report noted that the Council demonstrated an awareness of what an effective, efficient and secure benefit service needed to deliver and made three recommendations to address risks to continuous improvement. The report also noted that actions agreed following a previous risk assessment in 2015 had been completed.  An action plan had been agreed and was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.  The recommendations had already been implemented and would make a positive contribution to the continuous improvement of the benefits service.

The report advised that in November 2018 Audit Scotland published its report “Housing Benefit Performance Audit Annual Update 2017/18”.  A copy of the report was attached as Appendix 2.  A summary of the performance audit work carried out by Audit Scotland with five Councils’ housing benefit services during 2017/18 was highlighted within the report along with  key issues and examples of good practice from the Risk Assessments carried out.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Audit of Housing Benefit, Risk Assessment Report’ contained within Appendix 1 and the action plan submitted in response be noted; and 

(b)  That the Audit Scotland Report ‘Housing Benefit Performance Audit - Annual update 2018 attached as Appendix 2 be noted.

Under reference to Item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board held on 18 March 2019, there was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the proposed purpose, scope and terms of reference and witnesses to be called for the review of the effectiveness of Fair Trade within Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that the key purpose of the review would be to understand what motivated people to purchase fair trade products; to ensure that fair trade in Renfrewshire benefited the producer at source; to understand the processes in place to monitor the effectiveness of fair trade within Renfrewshire; to understand how fair trade was promoted within schools; to determine if the current processes in place for the purchase and distribution of fair trade goods was the most efficient, both for the end producer and the customer; and to identify if there were other ways to deliver fair trade to ensure best value, whilst ensuring that the correct people were benefiting. 

The report outlined the scope of the review and the intention to invite relevant stakeholders to future meetings to provide information to the Board. A copy of the proposed timetable was appended to the report.

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 and grant permission to extend the timescale of the final report from 16 March 2020 to 26 May 2020 to allow for the inclusion of Fairtrade Fortnight which takes place during February each year; and

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

Under reference to Item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board held on 18 March 2019, there was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the proposed purpose, scope and terms of reference and witnesses to be called for the review of bus deregulation and the effect on transport services in Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that the purpose of the review was to evaluate the effectiveness of current and proposed legislation in providing bus services to the public, enabling consideration of any proposals regarding changes to bus service provision.

The report outlined the scope of the review and the intention to invite relevant stakeholders to future meetings to provide information to the Board. A copy of the proposed timetable was appended to the report.

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; and

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

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to Audit
Scotland’s Management Report 2018/19.

The report indicated that Audit Scotland, as appointed external auditors, had identified some issues over the course of 2018/19 while undertaking their interim audit work. This work included testing of key controls within the systems and processes used in preparing the annual accounts. The report contained a summary of their findings and outlined management action to address the issues raised.

DECIDED: That the report produced by Audit Scotland and the management actions outlined within the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the annual review of the Council's Local Code of Corporate Governance (the Code) which was based on the Delivering Good Governance in Local Government: The Framework which set the standard for local authority governance in the UK and which was revised by CIPFA and Solace in 2016 to ensure it remained fit for purpose.

The Council’s Code covered the seven core principles which brought together the main elements of Council business and these were highlighted within the report and evidence of how the Council complied with the updated Code was attached as the appendix to the report.

DECIDED:   That the Council’s compliance with the Local Code of Corporate Governance as set out in the appendix to the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to Audit Scotland’s Management Report 2019.

The report indicated that Audit Scotland, as appointed external auditors, outlined key messages and issues along with the summary position within Renfrewshire Council.  A copy of the 2019 Audit Scotland Challenges and Performance report was appended to the report as Appendix 1.

The report advised that Audit Scotland had also published a supplementary paper for elected members, to consider in conjunction with the 2019 Performance and Challenges report. The supplementary paper included a scrutiny tool checklist for elected members, which had been designed to provide councillors with examples of questions to help better understand the Council’s position and to scrutinise performance. The supplementary paper for elected members was attached as Appendix 2.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the key messages contained in Audit Scotland’s - ‘Local Government in Scotland: Challenges and Performance 2019’ report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be noted;

(b)  That Renfrewshire Council’s position in relation to the key messages and recommendations set out in the Audit Scotland report be noted; and

(c)  That Audit Scotland’s ‘Supplement- scrutiny tool checklist for councillors’ attached as Appendix 2 to the report be noted.