Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Audit Risk Assurance updating Members of the Internal Audit activity progress in relation to the approved Internal Audit Plan 2017/18.

68.1    The Committee considered the report of the Head of Audit Risk Assurance. The Group Manager (ARA) summarised two months of audit activity outcomes which included Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), Gloucester Lottery and King’s Quarter. She further advised that good progress had been made against the 2017/18 Audit Plan to date.

68.2    Councillor Stephens expressed concern that the DHP allocation had not been utilised to its fullest extent. He stated that it was such an important benefit given the roll out of Universal Credit and queried why the Council had spent less than half its allocation.

68.3    Councillor Stephens expressed further concern that the individual who had been recruited to the Temporary and Homeless Accommodation Benefit Officer position had not taken up the post and queried why this was the case. Councillor Stephens also questioned whether the public was being signposted to the correct services. He stated that he would like sight of how many DHP claims had been refused and what was classed as income when a claim was assessed. The Chair agreed and stated that he was disappointed with the position.

68.4    The Head of Policy and Resources advised that information on the refusals of claims would be provided as well as information from other districts on how they spent their DHP allocation.

68.5    In respect of the Gloucester Lottery, Councillor Stephens queried why the bank statements of the client account had not been provided. The Chair also queried why these had not been provided. The Head of Policy and Resources advised that a data agreement was in place and that the Council would comply with data protection legislation. He stated that the Council received a breakdown of both monies and the rolling prize fund each week. He further stated that the Council’s audit team had assured the finance team that this was good practice.

68.6    Councillor Norman stated that she was content with the arrangement as the Gloucester Lottery operated in a highly regulated industry and suggested having sight of the Gambling Commission’s report. In addition, the Group Manager (ARA) confirmed that current external lottery manager professional indemnity and public liability insurance certificates had been provided for audit review.

68.7    The Head of Policy and Resources advised that the breakdown of expenditure was: 60% to good causes, 17% for an administration fee, 3% VAT and 20% was spent on lottery prizes. In response to a query from Councillor Stephens as to whether access to bank statements could be inserted into the contract, the Head of Policy and Resources stated that he would check with One Legal.

68.8    RESOLVED:-

(1)  That the Audit and Governance Committee note the report,

(2)  Information on the refusals of claim and information from other districts on they spent their DHP allocation would be circulated as well as information from other districts on how they spent their DHP allocation, and;

(3)  One Legal to be consulted on whether a requirement to receive bank statements could be inserted into the Gloucester Lottery contract and what the implications of doing so would be.