Issue - meetings

Decision:

(1)  That, with effect from 1 April 2023, the Council discharges its Internal Audit Function under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Hampshire County Council so that Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) can provide the Internal Audit Service for Guildford Borough Council.

(2)  That the Council’s Section 151 and Monitoring Officers be authorised to enter into the Joint Working Agreement by way of a deed of accession with Southern Internal Audit Partnership and undertake all necessary legal arrangements to do so.

(3)  That the Section 151 Officer or nominated officer represents the Council’s interests by becoming a voting member of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership Key Stakeholder Board.

Reason(s):

To ensure good governance arrangements and internal control by undertaking an adequate level of internal audit coverage through discharging the Council’s functions as permitted by the S101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The Lead Councillor for Resources introduced the report.

The Council’s existing contract for the provision of internal audit services was due to expire in March 2023. A process of soft market testing and due diligence had been undertaken to assess the available options and to identify a preferred provider. It was proposed that Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) could provide the service to the Council from 1 April 2023 for a five-year period.

It was noted that SIAP worked with many other councils including Waverley Borough Council (WBC). There would be no significant cost savings gained by transferring to SIAP, but it would harmonise with the Council’s collaboration with WBC. Consequently, the Executive,

RESOLVED:

(1)    That, with effect from 1 April 2023, the Council discharges its Internal Audit Function under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Hampshire County Council so that Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) can provide the Internal Audit Service for Guildford Borough Council.

(2)    That the Council’s Section 151 and Monitoring Officers be authorised to enter into the Joint Working Agreement by way of a deed of accession with Southern Internal Audit Partnership and undertake all necessary legal arrangements to do so.

(3)    That the Section 151 Officer or nominated officer represents the Council’s interests by becoming a voting member of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership Key Stakeholder Board.

Reason(s):

To ensure good governance arrangements and internal control by undertaking an adequate level of internal audit coverage through discharging the Council’s functions as permitted by the S101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee noted that the Council’s existing contract for the provision of Internal Audit services would expire in March 2023. A process of soft market testing and due diligence had been undertaken to assess the available options and to identify a preferred provider.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval to enter into a Joint Working Agreement to receive internal audit services from Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) for a period of five years from 1 April 2023. Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP), which had been established in 2012, was hosted by Hampshire County Council and was one of the largest providers of public sector internal audit in the region across a diverse portfolio of 29 public sector organisations.

In Surrey, Tandridge, Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead and Surrey Police were all partners in the partnership as well as a number of other district and borough councils and police authorities across Hampshire and Sussex. Waverley Borough Council was a contracting authority. Joining SIAP would offer value for money as well as contributing to the achievement of the vision of the Guildford-Waverley partnership by alignment of support service provision with Waverley.

Having considered the report, the Committee

RESOLVED: That the following recommendations be commended to the Executive at its meeting on 27 October 2022:

(1)   That, with effect from 1 April 2023, the Council discharges its Internal Audit Function under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Hampshire County Council so that Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) can provide the Internal Audit Service for Guildford Borough Council.

(2)   That the Council’s Section 151 and Monitoring Officers be authorised to enter into the Joint Working Agreement by way of a deed of accession with Southern Internal Audit Partnership and undertake all necessary legal arrangements to do so.

(3)   That the Section 151 Officer or nominated officer represents the Council’s interests by becoming a voting member of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership Key Stakeholder Board.

Reason:

To ensure good governance arrangements and internal control by undertaking an adequate level of internal audit coverage through discharging the Council’s functions as permitted by the S101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972.