Item 7 Appendix 2 - Internal Audit Plan 2023-2024 - Progress to 12 August 2024
West Dunbartonshire Council · 4 September 2024
Back to Audit Committee — 4 September 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Appendix 2 REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLANS AT 30 June 2024 Summary: Section 1 Summary of Management Actions due for completion by 30/06/2024 There were 17 actions due for completion by 30 June 2024, 4 of which have been reported as completed by management and a revised dates for set for 12 and 1 action still to be advised. Section 2 Summary of Current Management Actions Plans at 31/03/2024 At 31 March 2024 there were no audit reports delayed due to management not finalising the action plan within agreed timescales. Section 3 Current Management Actions at 30/06/2024 At 30 June 2024 there were 27 current audit action points. Section 4 Analysis of Missed Deadlines At 30 June 2024 there were 13 audit action points where the agreed deadline has been missed. Section 5 Summary of Action Plan Points by Audit Year
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2 REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS SUMMARY OF ACTION PLANS DUE FOR COMPLETION BY 30.06.2024 SECTION 1 Strategic Area No. of Actions Due No. of Actions Completed Deadline missed Revised date set* Deadline missed Revised Date to be set* HSCP 6 2 4 Citizen, Culture and Facilities 5 5 Roads and Neighbourhood 6 2 4 Total 17 4 13 * These actions are included in the Analysis of Missed Deadlines – Section 4
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3 REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS SUMMARY OF CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 2 CURRENT ACTIONS BY STRATEGIC AREA Roads and Neighbourhood Due for completion March 2025 5 Total Actions 5 HSCP - Health and Community Care Due for completion September 2024 3 Completion Date to be advised 1 Total Actions 4 Citizen, Culture and Facilities Due for completion August 2024 5 Due for completion September 2024 3 Completion Date to be advised 3 Total Actions 11 Education Learning and Attainment Due for completion March 2025 3 Total Actions 3 Regulatory & Regeneration Due for completion August 2024 1 Total Actions 1 Resources Due for completion December 2024 1 Total Actions 1 Housing and Employability Due for completion August 2024 1 Completion Date to be advised 1 Total Actions 2 Total current actions: 27
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Status Key 4 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Current Internal Audit Action Plans Supplier Management (Report Issued March 2023) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/158 HSCP Formal Contract and Supplier Management (Amber) Development of a Contracts Register to be stored centrally and controlled by the CCQ Team. By the due date it will have been developed to include a risk register in RAG format to cover contract start date, end date, extension date, CI scores, spend status, Quality monitoring information. Risk register will also be used to programme in more to review services well ahead of contract end date. 31-Dec-2023 30-Sep-2024 HSCP Head of Strategy and Transformation Chief Officer HSCP Board Occupational Therapy – Waiting Times (Report Issued April 2023) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/170 a Lack of capacity to manage current occupational therapy workloads (Red) Recruitment to current vacant posts. Limitations apply: availability of suitable, appointable applicants plus national recruitment issue. 01-May-2023 To be advised HSCP Head of Health and Community Care Chief Officer HSCP Board Fleet Management (Report Issued May 2023) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/176 Adequacy of Strategic Planning in relation to Fleet Management (Amber) An asset management plan for vehicle fleet will be developed based on the current budget for the vehicle replacement programme. The first plan will focus on priority vehicles which require to be replaced and then a rolling programme will be implemented. 31-May-2024 31-Mar-2025 Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood IAAP/178 Lack of Review and Update of Fortress System (Amber) An initial exercise will be undertaken to review and update the driver information held on Fortress through consultations. Half yearly review on an ongoing basis. Review of keys and allocation of a key to a specific vehicle will be implemented as part of the initial exercise. 31-Dec-2023 31-Mar-2025 Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood
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Status Key 5 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/179 Lack of measuring of individual vehicle efficiency/Co2 emissions (Amber) Management will further consider reporting of Co2 emissions as part of the net zero strategy and transition to electric vehicles. In relation to vehicle efficiency, as fuel efficiency is affected by individual driver style, management will consider whether driver information scores could be collated and provided to management to prioritise or target individual training. 31-Oct-2024 31-Mar-2025 Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood IAAP/180 Single Person Dependency – Transport Administration (Amber) Roles and responsibilities will be clarified and agreed for what is considered to be a service task and what is considered to be a Corporate Admin Support task. Relevant action to document procedures will then be taken. The service will consider developing the skills base of other officers within the wider service and undertake discussion with CAS management to ensure sufficient cross-training of required skills set within the wider CAS team. 01-Apr-2024 31-Mar-2025 Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (Report Issued January 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/204 Lack of Documented Procedures (Amber) A review of current procedures for dealing with stores management and stock control will be undertaken and fully documented. The procedural document will include the date of preparation, details of version control and will be approved by the Chief Officer. Any future updates to the procedures will be recorded within the version control data. Thereafter, the procedures will be distributed to all appropriate staff. Distribution will be recorded on a Document Distribution Record which will be signed by all staff members receiving a copy of the procedures. Training will be provided where any knowledge gaps are identified. 30-Sep-2024 30-Sep-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/206 Lack of Independent Check of Stock Check Documentation (Amber) Management will ensure that an independent check of stock checks is carried out to ensure the completeness an accuracy of the stock check. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities
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Status Key 6 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/208 Lack of Independent Check of Stock Check Documentation (Amber) Management will ensure that the integrity of the spreadsheets are maintained by protecting cells that contain formula and cells that relate to prices which the Food & Nutritionist Coordinator is only permitted to change/update. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/210 Inadequate Process for Approval of Invoices (Amber) Training will be provided to appropriate staff on the process of validating and approving invoices on the RBS Purchase Card System. Thereafter, invoices will be checked for validity at least on a sample basis before approving for payment. Should potential issues be identified, the sample size for checking will be increased. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/211 Lack of checking Compliance with the Shopping List (Amber) As part of the monthly service reviews carried out, Team Leaders and the new Compliance Officer will carry out a check of stock as standard to ensure that stock items are compliant with the Shopping List. This will be documented within the Onsite Service Review form and where any non compliant items are identified, this will be highlighted to management. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/212 Lack of checking Compliance with the Shopping List (Amber) In addition, where a check is carried out in respect of compliance with Food For Life, this will also be documented and any issues identified raised with management. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Facilities Manager Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities Facilities Management –Cleaning Stock Control (Report Issued January 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/218 Stock Control Procedures/Guidance for Cleaning Materials (Amber) Management will develop procedures to standardise the approach for cleaning supplies stock control and ensure compliance checks are carried out. 31-Jul-2024 To be Advised Facilities Officer and Compliance Team Leader Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/219 Adequacy of Stock Checks (Amber) Management will ensure an action plan is developed to include the implementation of stock and compliance checks are carried out on a monthly basis at each premise. 31-Jul-2024 To be Advised Facilities Officer Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities
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Status Key 7 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/220 Excessive Levels of Stock (Amber) Management will ensure an action plan is developed to include setting a recommended stock holding of cleaning products at each of the premises and ensure compliance checks are carried out. 31-Jul-2024 To be Advised Facilities Officer and Compliance Team Leader Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities IAAP/221 Adequacy of Training (Amber) Management will ensure an action plan is developed to include standard training guidance being delivered to all facilities staff responsible for cleaning stores & stock management, this will also include a consistent approach to the distribution and usage cleaning products. Attendance at this training will be compulsory for facilities staff responsible for cleaning stores & stock management and monitoring will take place at each establishment to ensure guidance received is being adhered to. 30-Sep-2024 30-Sep-2024 Facilities Officer and Compliance Team Leader Facilities Officer and Compliance Team Leader IAAP/222 Lack of Information on Flammable/Hazardous Products (Amber) Management will ensure an action plan is developed to include guidance for storing, handling and recording / registering flammable/hazardous cleaning products at premises and ensure compliance checks are carried out. 30-Sep-2024 30-Sep-2024 Facilities Officer and Compliance Team Leader Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities Supporting Employee Attendance (Report Issued March 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/225 Compliance Issues – HSCP Care at Home (Amber) The management team is currently looking for the best way forward to be more compliant, there are currently a large number of competing demands and this requires some operational decisions to be made. A review of duties and process around absent management – including compliance with the policy is required. All management within Care at Home require further training in using the Workforce Console and will be put in place. 30-Jun-2024 30-Sept-2024 Integrated Operations Manager Head of Health and Community Care
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Status Key 8 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/227 System Access Restrictions for Recording Absences – HSCP Residential Day Care (Amber) The service have taken advice from HR connect on how to access HR21 system. The HR21 system will be piloted with a small staff group at Crosslet to ensure the process works and relevant action will then be taken to enable wider access/training. 30-Jun-2024 30-Sep-2024 Integrated Operations Manager Head of Health and Community Care IAAP/228 c Monitoring Compliance – Roads and Neighbourhood (Amber) Refresher training for all managers with line management responsibility. Absence and Wellbeing to be highlighted at team meetings. 31-May-2024 30-Sep-2024 Roads and Transportation Manager Chief Officer – Roads and Neighbourhood
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9 Status Key On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 CSA Education Procedures (Report Issued May 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/231 Adequacy of School Fund Procedures A review of the procedures will be undertaken and updated to reflect up to date practice and provide sufficient guidance to staff involved in maintaining and managing school funds. A copy of the updated school fund procedures will be disseminated to Heads of establishments. 31-Mar-2025 31-Mar-2025 Senior Education Officer Chief Officer – Education, Learning and Attainment IAAP/232 School Fund Procedures Not Being Followed Management will identify the tasks and processes within the current procedures which are still applicable and remind establishments that procedures should be followed until updated procedures are available. 31-Mar-2025 31-Mar-2025 Senior Education Officer Chief Officer – Education, Learning and Attainment IAAP/233 Adherence to Finance Procedures - Teacher Absence Cover Management will ensure that all schools are using the cover spreadsheet as supplied by Finance in order to manage and monitor their school budgets. Arrange for additional/refresher training to Head Teachers and support staff in the correct application of coding of absence cover where required. Remind Head Teachers of the requirements of carrying out appropriate checks prior to the approval of timesheets on the Teacher Booker System. Consider running and reviewing reports from the Teacher Booker system to ensure schools are correctly coding absence cover at least on a sample basis. 31-Mar-2025 31-Mar-2025 Senior Education Officer Chief Officer – Education, Learning and Attainment
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10 Status Key On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 3 Corporate Procurement below £10k (Report Issued June 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/235 Procurement Awareness Training Chief Officer, Regulatory & Regeneration is hoping to recruit to the vacant Procurement Manager post by early June 2024. The incoming Procurement Manager will be provided with the opportunity to agree the revised training and guidance. 31-Aug-2024 31-Aug-2024 Chief Officer, Regulatory & Regeneration Chief Officer, Regulatory & Regeneration UK Shared Prosperity Fund Assurance Review (Report Issued June 2024) Code Agreed Action Status Original Due Date Due Date Assigned To Managed By IAAP/237 Inadequate policies and procedures to support closure of the fund Management are in regular discussions with Government officials about continuity of UKSP Funds. Should these discussions prove to be unsuccessful and there is no further funding from this source, WDC has a full set of HR policies relating to staff terms and conditions and processes for dealing with the loss of funding. We will begin to implement the appropriate course of action three months in advance of the fund closing. 31-Dec-2024 31-Dec-2024 Chief Officer, Resources Chief Executive IAAP/238 Shared Prosperity Fund Data Protection Issue Management will ensure all staff involved in submission and approval of creditor payments to be advised that client names must not be submitted as a reference on payment requests, advising further that initials / reference –numbers may be used as an alternative. 31-May-2024 To be advised Working4u Manager Chief Officer - Housing and Employability IAAP/239 Financial Monitoring Review Procedures Management will ensure, there is a formalised report introduced detailing the 20% of transactions reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Finance Officer. 31-Aug-2024 31-Aug-2024 Working4u Manager Chief Officer - Housing and Employability
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Status Key 11 On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 4 Report Agreed Action Original Due Date Revised Date Management Comments Occupational Therapy – Waiting Times (April 2023) Lack of capacity to manage current occupational therapy workloads (Red) Recruitment to current vacant posts. Limitations apply: availability of suitable, appointable applicants plus national recruitment issue. 01-May-2023 To be advised A new Integrated Operations Manager has now been appointed and one of the priority areas identified will be to review the wider OT service across ACT/COPT. This is anticipated to be concluded by June 2024 as this work will require a service redesign process. Supplier Management (March 2023) HSCP Formal Contract and Supplier Management (Amber) Development of a Contracts Register to be stored centrally and controlled by the CCQ Team. By the due date it will have been developed to include a risk register in RAG format to cover contract start date, end date, extension date, CI scores, spend status, Quality monitoring information. Risk register will also be used to programme in more to review services well ahead of contract end date. 31-Dec-2023 30-Sep-2024 This works remains a key workstream for the HSCP however, a number of challenges and additional pressures on capacity have prevented the completion of this audit action by the due date including: • Development of the Commissioned Services report across all HSCP commissioned services (format agreed at the last Audit Committee). • Quality Improvement Framework– work is still ongoing. • Amalgamating supplier information from multiple sources in order to get a picture of all current suppliers. • Contracts requiring strategic review. • Contracts and Commissioner Officer started in post December 2023. Fleet Management (May 2023) Adequacy of Strategic Planning in relation to Fleet Management (Amber) An asset management plan for vehicle fleet will be developed based on the current budget for the vehicle replacement programme. The first plan will focus on priority vehicles which require to be replaced and then a rolling programme will be implemented. 01.04.2024 31.03.2024 This action is dependent on completion of the action plan to clarify and agree roles and responsibilities for what is considered to be a service task and what is considered to be a Corporate Admin Support task. Relevant action will then be taken.
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12 Status Key On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 4 Report Agreed Action Original Due Date Revised Date Management Comments Fleet Management (May 2023) Lack of Review and Update of Fortress System (Amber) An initial exercise will be undertaken to review and update the driver information held on Fortress through consultations. Half yearly review on an ongoing basis. Review of keys and allocation of a key to a specific vehicle will be implemented as part of the initial exercise. 31-Dec-2023 31-Mar-2025 This action is dependent on completion of the action plan to clarify and agree roles and responsibilities for what is considered to be a service task and what is considered to be a Corporate Admin Support task. Relevant action will then be taken. Fleet Management (May 2023) Single Person Dependency – Transport Administration (Amber) Roles and responsibilities will be clarified and agreed for what is considered to be a service task and what is considered to be a Corporate Admin Support task. Relevant action to document procedures will then be taken. The service will consider developing the skills base of other officers within the wider service and undertake discussion with CAS management to ensure sufficient cross-training of required skills set within the wider CAS team. 01-Apr-2024 31-Mar-2025 The service will consider developing the skills base of other officers within the wider service and undertake discussion with CAS management to ensure sufficient cross-training of required skills set within the wider CAS team. Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (January 2024) Lack of Independent Check of Stock Check Documentation (Amber) Management will ensure that the integrity of the spreadsheets are maintained by protecting cells that contain formula and cells that relate to prices which the Food & Nutritionist Coordinator is only permitted to change/update. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Due to long term absence revised date agreed. Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (January 2024) Lack of Independent Check of Stock Check Documentation (Amber) Management will ensure that the integrity of the spreadsheets are maintained by protecting cells that contain formula and cells that relate to prices which the Food & Nutritionist Coordinator 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Due to long term absence revised date agreed.
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13 Status Key On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 4 Report Agreed Action Original Due Date Revised Date Management Comments is only permitted to change/update. Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (January 2024) Lack of checking Compliance with the Shopping List (Amber) In addition, where a check is carried out in respect of compliance with Food For Life, this will also be documented and any issues identified raised with management. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Due to long term absence revised date agreed. Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (January 2024) Inadequate Process for Approval of Invoices (Amber) Training will be provided to appropriate staff on the process of validating and approving invoices on the RBS Purchase Card System. Thereafter, invoices will be checked for validity at least on a sample basis before approving for payment. Should potential issues be identified, the sample size for checking will be increased. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Due to long term absence revised date agreed. Facilities Management – Catering Stock Control (January 2024) Lack of checking Compliance with the Shopping List (Amber) As part of the monthly service reviews carried out, Team Leaders and the new Compliance Officer will carry out a check of stock as standard to ensure that stock items are compliant with the Shopping List. This will be documented within the Onsite Service Review form and where any non compliant items are identified, this will be highlighted to management. 30-Apr-2024 31-Aug-2024 Due to long term absence revised date agreed. Supporting Employee Attendance (Report Issued March 2024 Compliance Issues – HSCP Care at Home (Amber) The management team is currently looking for the best way forward to be more compliant, there are currently a large number of competing demands and this requires some operational decisions to be made. A review of duties and process around absent 30-Jun-2024 30-Sep-2024 To Be Advised
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14 Status Key On track Complete Overdue – update required Missed original due date –new date set REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLAN POINTS CURRENT ACTION PLANS AT 30.06.2024 SECTION 4 Report Agreed Action Original Due Date Revised Date Management Comments management – including compliance with the policy is required. All management within Care at Home require further training in using the Workforce Console and will be put in place. Supporting Employee Attendance (Report Issued March 2024 System Access Restrictions for Recording Absences – HSCP Residential Day Care (Amber) The service have taken advice from HR connect on how to access HR21 system. The HR21 system will be piloted with a small staff group at Crosslet to ensure the process works and relevant action will then be taken to enable wider access/training. 30-Jun-2024 30-Sep-2024 To Be Advised Supporting Employee Attendance (Report Issued March 2024) Monitoring Compliance – Roads and Neighbourhood (Amber) Refresher training for all managers with line management responsibility. Absence and Wellbeing to be highlighted at team meetings. 31-May-2024 30-Sep-2024 To be advised
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15 REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF INTERNAL AUDIT ACTION PLANS SUMMARY OF ACTIONS BY AUDIT YEAR SECTION 5 Status at 30 June 2024 Current actions by GradeAudit Year No of Agreed Actions No of actions complete Red Amber Green* 2020/2021 25 25 0 0 0 2021/2022 51 50 0 0 1 2022/2023 51 41 1 6 3 2023/2024 56 27 0 20 9 Total 183 143 1 26 13 * Green actions are within the Council’s risk appetite and are therefore not included in Audit Committee reports.