Agenda

Summary:

This report examines the progress made between 26 November 2022 to 30 May 2023 in relation to delivery of the Annual Internal Audit Plan for 2022/23 and provides details of any outstanding internal audit recommendations.

Conclusions:

The report contains an update on progress against the Internal Audit Plan for 2022/23 and progress against the completion of   internal audit recommendations.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Committee receives internal audit progress and progress against internal audit recommendations within the period covered by the report. 

All

All

Contact Officer, telephone number, and e?mail:

Faye Haywood

01508 533873

faye.haywood@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

Summary:

This report concludes on the internal audit activity undertaken during 2022/23, it provides an annual opinion concerning the organisation’s framework of governance, risk management and control and concludes on the effectiveness of internal audit and provides key information for the annual governance statement. 

Conclusions:

On the basis of Internal Audit work performed during 2022/23, the Head of Internal Audit is able to give a reasonable (positive) opinion on the framework of governance, risk management and control overall at North Norfolk District Council.

Recommendations:

1.    Receive and consider the contents of the Annual Report and Opinion of the Head of Internal Audit.

2.    Note that a reasonable audit opinion has been given in relation to the framework of governance, risk management and control for the year ended 31 March 2023.

3.    Note that the opinions expressed together with significant matters arising from internal audit work and contained within this report should be given due consideration, when developing and reviewing the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23.

4.    Note the conclusions of the Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Audit.

All

All

Contact Officer, telephone number, and e?mail:

Faye Haywood, Head of Internal Audit

01508533873, faye.haywood@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

Purchase of two additional refuse collection vehicles

Executive Summary

This report outlines the requirement for allocation of capital funding for the purchase of two new refuse collection vehicles for the commercial and garden waste collection services delivered by Serco on behalf of the Council. These services have experienced significant customer growth over the last few years and are at a point whereby additional vehicles are required to ensure that the Council can continue to meet customers’ expectations and deliver its statutory duties around domestic and commercial waste collections.

Options considered

Do nothing – this would result in a deteriorating service level and loss of customers resulting in lost income for the Council.

Hiring additional vehicles – deemed poor value for money.

Purchasing second-hand vehicles – no availability of suitable vehicles. 

Contractor purchasing vehicles – poor value for money and not in line with current fleet.

Consultation(s)

The proposal has been drawn up in conjunction with Serco who have recommended the provision of the additional vehicles and will look to factor their use in to a future round reorganisation. 

Recommendations

That Cabinet recommend to full Council an addition to the Capital programme of £385,000 to purchase two new refuse collection vehicles and that the £385,000 be added to the residual £65,000 that is left over from the original budget to purchase refuse vehicles from 2019 to date.

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that the purchase be funded by borrowing of £335,000 and a revenue contribution of £50,000.

Reasons for recommendations

To ensure the Council can meet customers’ expectations and provide a service that can keep up with the continuing increase in demand for garden and commercial waste collection services.  To ensure statutory duties around waste collection can be fulfilled.  To support the future growth in revenue generating services.

Background papers

None

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Callum Ringer

Contact Officer

Scott Martin, Environment and Safety Manager, scott.martin@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

N/A

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

The provision of additional resources on the revenue generating garden and commercial waste services will enable a better level of service delivery and help achieve future customer and revenue growth, supporting the MTFS.

Council Policies & Strategies

None

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

Yes

Has the public interest test been applied

Is the item exempt, if so, state why.

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

N/A

Counter-Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Update

Executive Summary

This counter-fraud update report informs on the Council’s arrangements in the fight against fraud and corruption and recent work undertaken to identify how we are addressing and mitigating risk.

The Governance Risk and Audit Committee (“GRAC”) is informed of the Council’s recent incidences of potential fraud and mitigation applied; of a counter fraud checklist and resulting action plan.

Options considered

Whilst this report is intended for general note, GRAC may wish to consider or further review the checklist and risk/mitigation measures.

Consultation

In preparing this report, managers whose area of work presents a higher risk of fraud have been liaised with. These officers have fed into the ‘fighting fraud checklist’ and have provided information about incidences of potential fraud in the last 12 months. Additionally, there has been consultation with the Chief Financial Officer (“s.151 officer”); Internal Audit Manager, the Council’s Management Team, the Corporate Leadership Team (“CLT”) and all key officers at the Council whose role is detailed on the attached checklist.

Recommendations

1. To note the update report
2. To review and note the checklist
3. To review and note the action plan
4. To note the fraud assessment update which includes incidences of potential fraud

Reasons for recommendations

To deliver the corporate action plan aims with regard to cost versus risk considerations and with a view to keep our establishment at reasonable and affordable levels whilst addressing the risk of fraud.

Background papers

Links to key documents

Appendix A – Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally -Checklist.

Appendix B – Action Plan ensuing from checklist

Appendix C – Last Year’s Fraud Risk Assessment (2022/23)

Appendix D – Corporate Anti-Fraud Action Plan

Appendix E – Table considering risk areas identified in the 2022/23 Fraud Risk Assessment, and incidences of potential Fraud at NNDC

FFCL - Strategy for the 2020's.pdf (cifas.org.uk)

Tackling fraud and corruption against government (nao.org.uk)

Wards affected

All

Cabinet Members

Cllr Shires

Contact Officer: Cara Jordan, AD Finance Assets Legal  cara.jordan@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Tel 01263 516373

Corporate Plan:

Financial Sustainability and Growth

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)               

Proposals not linked to the MTFS

Council Policies & Strategies

Counter Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Policy 2022

Counter Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Strategy

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision       

 No

Has the public interest test been applied

Exempt paper - Appendix E(i)

For the following reason

Information in Appendix E(i) involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Part 1 of schedule 12A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972.

These paragraphs relate to:

1.               information relating to an individual;

2.               information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; and 

3.               information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:

Paragraphs 1 & 2: Some incidents detailed in Appendix E(i) relate to one or few individuals whose  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Agenda Item Number

Paragraph of Part 1 Schedule 12A

12

Appendix E

1 - information relating to an individual

2 - information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).