Agenda item

Grahame Brown (Audit Manager) and Darren Wells (District Auditor) from the Audit Commission will be present for this item.

All Members of the County Council have been invited to attend for this item

(1)       The Chairman welcomed Mr G Brown (Audit Manager) and Mr D Wells (District Auditor) from the Audit Commission to the meeting and invited them to give a presentation on the Organisational Assessment (OA) and to answer questions from Members.

(2)       Mr Brown set out the context of the OA, which was an element of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), to show where it would fit with the proposed framework for the CAA.    The presentation also included the Use of Resources framework for the 2009 assessment and the key principles for scoring.  The finalisation of the CAA framework was expected shortly, and the Auditors were due to deliver assessments in April 2009.   Use of Resources statements would be reported in September 2009 as part of the Annual Governance report and the OA was due in later November as part of the CAA reporting. 

(3)       Mr Brown and Mr Wells then responded to questions and comments from Members, which included the following:-

• It was important not to lose sight of the electorate. The CAA builds on the ability to put independent and relevant information in the hands of citizens.

• The Use of Resources assessment had 3 themes and it was confirmed that the PCTs, Fire & Rescue Authority and Local Authorities would all be judged on the same framework.

• In developing the CAA, Inspectorates knew that they needed to work more closely than they had done in the past and to share information, to ensure that inspectors did not come along and request the same information and that they were all are making judgements based on the same information. 

• It was acknowledged that, if scores were combined, there was the potential to reduce transparency. This was something that was likely to come out in the consultation responses.

• In response to a question on who assesses the effectiveness of the Audit Commission, it was stated that the Audit Commission was a corporate body accountable to Government and the Minister. It also continually assessed its own effectiveness and consulted widely.

• The new framework had emerged though wide consultation with organisations such as the Local Government Association. 

• It was confirmed that the Audit Inspection Plan would be submitted to the Audit and Governance Committee.

• It was acknowledged that some aspects of the assessment would  need an annual refresh.  For example, financial reporting or monitoring would need to bring in the quality of the annual statement of account. Each year the Audit Commission would look at which of the Key Lines of Enquiry would need to be assessed.

• Members raised the issue of holding partnerships to account and the risk if one or more partners did not perform, which could have an adverse effect on all of the partners.  It was explained that, if partners were working together, it was up to them to prioritise areas for improvement.  CAA reporting would flag up areas which were being achieved and areas where progress was not being made, thereby  showing where weaknesses lay.   It was important to highlight weaknesses and good practise so that partnerships could build on good practise and develop the areas of weakness until all were achieving at the required level.

• Although there would be shared data which could be accessed by all Inspectors, it was anticipated that those Inspectors who led on a specific area would have a greater focus on that e.g. Ofsted would have a greater interest in data on children services.  On a practical level, a single pot of information should make sure that judgements are made on common information.

• Further presentations on the CAA and aspects of it could be arranged for Members if required.

(4)       Members expressed concerns about the timescale for assessment when the framework had yet to be finalised.

(5)       RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.