Agenda item - Internal Audit Progress Report – Quarter 2 (1 July to 30 September 2020)

Report of the Acting Chief Finance Officer

1)             That the Committee note the report.

41.1      The Committee considered a report of the Acting Chief Finance Officer that provided an update on all internal audit and counter fraud activity completed during quarter 2 (2020/21), including a summary of all key audit findings.

41.2      In response to questions from Councillor Hugh-Jones, the Audit Manager explained that in relation to business support grants, the Audit Team were in the process of putting together a post-payment certification check. This would be bolstered by the additional assurance provided by the National Fraud Initiative data matching. Checks on applications were carried out before payments were made and there were also spotlight checks undertaken. Protocols were further strengthened by the funding portal requesting a declaration of business rates paid. On incidents of fraudulent activity in Adult Social Care, the Audit Manager explained that the number of cases were low and there were no significant issues identified.

41.3      RESOLVED- That the Committee note the report.