Agenda Contents
North Lanarkshire Council · 26 February 2024
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Panel — 26 February 2024 and its agenda
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15 February 2024 Members of the Audit and Scrutiny Panel Chief Executive’s Office Archie Aitken Chief Officer (Legal & Democratic) Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk Notice is given that a Meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Panel is to be held in the Committee Room 1, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB on Monday, 26 February 2024 at 10:00 AM which you are requested to attend. The agenda of business is attached. Archie Aitken Chief Officer (Legal & Democratic) Members : Clerk Name: Andrew Rose Clerk Telephone: 07951409714 Clerk Email: rosean@northlan.gov.uk S Watson, H Dunbar, H Brannan-McVey, T Fisher, M Hughes, J Hume, D Johnston, J Leckie, B McCulloch, J McLaren, G Robinson.
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Agenda 1 Declarations of Interest In Terms of the Ethical Standards In Public Life Etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 Audit-Related Items 2 Update on School Funds and School Trips Submit report by the Chief Officer (Education North) providing a response to the Panel’s request to deliver a report from management following the Panel’s consideration at its meeting in November 2023 of two separate Internal Audit reports on (1) school excursions and (2) Management of school funds at School C 7 - 16 3 Audit Scotland Annual Audit Plan 2023-2024 Submit report of the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) providing the Panel with sight of the Annual Audit Plan 2023-24 received from Audit Scotland, the Council’s appointed external auditors (copy of report herewith, Appendix 1 to follow) 17 - 20 4 Audit and Risk Related Items Action log Submit report by the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) allowing elected members to track implementation of outstanding requests and recommendations made by the Panel in respect of audit and risk-related items 21 - 24 5 Internal Audit Progress Report Submit report by the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) (1) providing an overview of Internal Audit activity, and (2) reporting the results of Internal Audit outputs finalised since the last update to the Panel in November 2023 25 - 78 6 Internal Audit Follow-up of actions previously agreed by management in response to audit recommendations Submit report by the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) updating the Panel on the results of Internal Audit’s follow-up work reviewing the extent to which management have implemented actions previously committed to in response to previous Internal and External Audit recommendations 79 - 114
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7 Accounts Commission Local Government Financial Bulletin 2022-23 Submit report by the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) providing elected members with the Accounts Commission Local Government Financial Bulletin 2022-23 published in late- January 2024 115 - 154 Risk-Related Items 8 Risk Management Update Submit report by the Chief Officer (Audit and Risk) providing the Panel with an update on developments and changes in relation to the corporate risk register and other key risk management developments since the last update to the Panel in November, with a particular focus on changes to corporate risk scores, new or emerging risk issues and providing a snapshot of the highest current residual risks within Service risk registers 155 - 162 Scrutiny-Related Items 9 Scrutiny Work Performance - Update Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) advising the Panel of the six-monthly update to the composite Scrutiny Work Programme and reporting timetable for the scrutiny function of the Audit and Scrutiny Panel, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report 163 - 176 10 Strategic Performance Framework - Performance Reporting Schedule Quarterly Performance Assurance Review Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) providing the Panel with the outcome from the latest performance assurance review that has been undertaken of performance reports which have previously been submitted to council committees during cycle 4 of 2023 177 - 210 11 The Plan for North Lanarkshire Framework and Schedule for Performance Reporting and Progress Monitoring for 2024/25 Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) setting out the performance reporting, monitoring, review, and scrutiny arrangements for The Plan for North Lanarkshire by way of a reporting framework, schedule, and set of quality and non-negotiable standards to be implemented for 2024 to 2025 211 - 232
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12 Quality Assurance arrangements for the Project Managment Framework and Programme of Work - Role of the Audit and Scrutiny Panel Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) providing the initial overview of the Quality Assurance Arrangements for the Panel’s information 233 - 242 13 Auditing Best Value in Local Government - Update Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) aiming to help Panel Members fulfil their role by providing an update on the national approach to auditing Best Value that will be implemented in 2024 243 - 260 14 Strategic Self-Evaluation Framework - Annual Review and Refresh Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) providing the refreshed Framework and rolling Review Programme for 2024 to 2025 (in Appendix B) for the information of the Panel 261 - 306 15 Performance in Complaints Handling Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) providing the Panel with an update on the performance of the Council in complaints handling in line with the Panel’s role to provide independent review of the Council’s governance, risk management, performance, and control frameworks 307 - 322 16 Arm's Length External Organisations Governance and Risk Management Oversight and Assurance Report (July to December 2023) Submit report by the Chief Officer (Business and Digital) (1) providing an update on externalised Service Delivery Arrangements within North Lanarkshire through the Council’s portfolio of Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEOs), and (2) seeking approval that a refresh of the ALEO Review Programme is undertaken over 2024/25 and 2025/26 to ensure that the externalised Service Delivery Arrangements through the Council’s wholly owned ALEOs continue to demonstrate best value and meet the Council’s expectations 323 - 338