Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements
Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement.
There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Minute of meeting of the IJB Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Committee held on 20 June 2025.
1
The Minute of the meeting of the IJB Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Committee held on 20 June 2025 was submitted.
DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.
Report by Chief Internal Auditor.
2
The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report providing an update on the progress of the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26, a copy of which was appended to the report.
DECIDED: That the progress against the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 be noted.
Report by Chief Internal Auditor.
3
The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report providing a summary of internal audit activity, relevant to the IJB, recently undertaken in partner organisations.
In relation to internal audit activity within Renfrewshire Council, the report provided detail on the Annual Internal Audit Report, a copy of which was appended to the report. In relation to internal audit activity within NHSGGC, the report provided detail on the audit reviews in relation to strategic and operational planning and staff training and development.
DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.
Report by Chief Internal Auditor.
4
The Chief Internal Auditor submitted a report regarding the new Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS), introduced by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), which came into force in January 2025. The report noted that auditors working in the UK public sector must follow the requirements of the Global Internal Audit Standards and the additional requirements set out in the Application Note and referred to this professional framework as Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector (GIAS in the UKPS). The report highlighted that Internal Audit Teams must work in accordance with the new standards from 1 April 2025 in order to build up their conformance. The outcomes of a self-assessment gap analysis exercise by the Chief Internal Auditor and improvement actions identified were detailed within the appendix to the report.
The report noted that an updated action plan would be submitted to the meeting of this Committee scheduled to be held on 20 March 2026.
DECIDED:
(a) That the results of the self-assessment exercise undertaken to ensure compliance with the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector be noted;
(b) That the actions to be undertaken to ensure full compliance with the framework be noted; and
(c) That it be noted that an updated action plan would be submitted to the meeting of this Committee scheduled to be held on 20 March 2026.
Report by Chief Finance Officer.
5
Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 20 June 2025, the Chief Finance Officer submitted a report relative to the Annual Audit Report on the IJB Accounts for 2024/25. The findings of the appointed auditor, Ernst and Young LLP (EY) were presented in the Annual Audit Report which formed Appendix 1 to the report.
Rob Jones, Partner, EY, presented the report to the Committee providing an overview of the key items.
DECIDED: That the Annual Audit Report by EY, which formed Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.
Report by Chief Finance Officer.
6
Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 20 June 2025, the Chief Finance Officer submitted a report relative to the Audited Annual Accounts for 2024/25, a copy of which formed Appendix 1 to the report. The report noted that the Annual Accounts 2024/25 would be submitted to the meeting of the IJB scheduled to be held on 19 September 2025 for approval and signature.
On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked both EY and the HSCP finance team for the work undertaken in ensuring that the accounts were in a very good position.
DECIDED: That the Audited Annual Accounts 2024/25 be submitted to the IJB for approval and signature.
Report by Strategic Lead & Improvement Manager.
7
Under reference to item 8 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 20 June 2025, the Strategic Lead & Improvement Manager submitted a report providing an update on ongoing activity to identify and manage risks and issues and updates made to the IJB’s Risk and Issue Register, a copy of which was appended to the report.
DECIDED: That the updates made to the Risk and Issue Register, as detailed in section 4 of the report, be approved.
Report by Interim Head of health & Social Care.
8
The Interim Head of Health & Social Care submitted a report providing an update on health & safety compliance from 1 January to 30 June 2025.
DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.
Report by Lead Officer, Communications & Public Affairs.
9
The Lead Officer, Communications & Public Affairs submitted a report providing an update on public affairs performance for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.
Report by Interim Head of Health & Social Care.
10
The Interim Head of Health & Social Care submitted a report summarising the findings from the unannounced inspection conducted at Hunterhill Care Home in May 2025 by the Care Inspectorate, a copy of which was appended to the report.
DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.
Report by Head of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Alcohol & Drug Recovery Services.
11
The Head of Mental Health, Learning Disability & Alcohol & Drugs Recovery Services submitted a report summarising the findings from the unannounced inspection conducted at The Weavers Linn respite service in June 2025 by the Care Inspectorate, a copy of which was appended to the report.
DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
The Committee may by resolution exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public are present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
The Committee resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Exempt report by Chief Internal Auditor. (This exempt report has been issued to members of the Committee under separate cover).
12
The Chief Internal Auditor submitted an exempt report relative to the findings and conclusions of an audit engagement.
DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.
Note that the next meeting of this Committee will be held remotely on MS Teams at 10.00 am on 21 November 2025.
13
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of this Committee would be held remotely on MS teams at 10.00 am on 21 November 2025.
Margaret Kerr, Chair, advised this was her last meeting, and thanked officers for their assistance during her tenure, and advised that the next meeting would by chaired by Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes.