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ITEM EX6

EXECUTIVE – 18 MARCH 2003

ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER AND ACTION PLAN 2001/2002

Report by Director for Business Support & County Treasurer

 

Introduction

  1. The District Auditor has issued her Annual Audit Letter for 2001/2002. This Letter represents a summary of the Auditor’s work and key findings relating to the financial year 2001/2002. Copies of this letter have been circulated separately to all County Councillors, directors and senior officers. The letter is in the Members’ Resource Centre and is available for public inspection.

  2. The Best Value Committee on 26 February received the Letter, and associated Action Plan. (download as .doc file). The Committee also referred two issues to the relevant Scrutiny Committees for more detailed consideration (see paragraph 4 below). The Committee also noted that all recommendations from the 2000/2001 Action Plan had been actioned.

    3. Action Plan 2001/2002

  3. The 12 main recommendations from the Letter are summarised in the Action Plan 2001/2002. (Officers have responded to the Action Plan and a completed Plan reflecting their comments is attached as to this report. Key themes from the Action Plan are:

    • R1 - Comprehensive Performance Assessment – ensure that priorities are monitored and improvements achieved

    • R2 & 3 - Best Value – review arrangements for setting targets and ensure BVPP contains required performance information

    • R4, 5 & 6 - Use of Resources – simplify Forward Plan and strengthen partnership working. Reduce level of unfilled school places

    • R7 & 8 - Accounts – review closedown process and continue to improve submission and preparation of grant claims

    • R9 - Legality – provide detailed information relating to HOP transfer

    • R10 - Financial standing – monitor financial strategy and increase balances

    • R11 & 12 - Financial control – address identified weaknesses and consider how best to develop the Council’s corporate governance agenda

Best Value Committee, 26 February 2003

  1. The Best Value Committee on 26 February, in receiving the Action Plan, resolved to:

    1. refer the section of the Letter on partnership working [R5], in particular the accountability of the Children’s Programme Board, to the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

    (b) refer the section of the Letter on financial standing [R6], in particular the restoration of the Council’s balances to £10m by 2007, to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee as part of its budget scrutiny development agenda.

    RECOMMENDATIONS

  2. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the Annual Audit Letter 2001/02 and the issues referred by the Best Value Committee to the two Scrutiny Committees;;

(b) endorse the Action Plan 2001/2002 and invite individual Executive Members to pursue the respective recommendations with the appropriate Directors.

CHRIS GRAY
Director for Business Support and County Treasurer

Background Papers:
Annual Audit Letter 2000/2001
Annual Audit Letter 2001/2002

Contact Officer: Michael Rolton, Financial Control and Operations Manager, Tel: Oxford 815440

March 2003

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