Report of: The Internal Auditor, BDO

Purpose of report: To update the Audit and Governance Committee.

Recommendation(s): That the Committee resolves to:

1.    Note and discuss the report.

The Internal Auditor (BDO) had submitted a report to update the Committee. The Internal Auditor, the Head of People, and the Corporate Fire Safety Manager were present to respond to questions.  

The Internal Auditor introduced the report, noting that it included the medium-term financial plan and the fire safety review; both of which demonstrated positive progress. The Committee understood that three remaining reports for the 2025-2026 plan would be presented at the next meeting along with the annual opinion.  

In relation to the fire safety report, the Internal Auditor summarised that a moderate opinion had been reached with two main findings of note. A comprehensive history of this review was delivered to the Committee with an explanation of the steps taken by the Council to achieve previous improvements, including the appointment of six contractors to reassess all fire safety assessments. Following issues with subcontractors and the recording of fire risk assessment data, another review was issued and this has highlighted significant improvements. The Internal Auditor summarised that in-house teams are now utilised instead of contractors, and an action list of over 300 items has been reduced to 28 as of December 2025. A summary of staffing allocations and the use of the QL system was also delivered. To summarise, the Internal Auditor outlined the remaining areas for improvement, including the need to clarify commentary on some actions and the need to make clearer use of the QL system. The Committee heard that ongoing work with a software provider is occurring to create a dashboard for photographic evidence and improvements to procurement are being assessed in relation to one outstanding subcontractor.  

The Chair, noting that the report on the medium-term financial plan concluded a substantial opinion, suggested that the Committee were content; the Committee had no questions on this report.  

The Chair invited the Corporate Fire Safety Manager to comment on the fire safety review. 

The Corporate Fire Safety Manager praised the work of relevant teams and emphasised the creation of the in-house fire safety team since last February. The Committee heard that the team is in control of the actions inherited through the 2024 audit and the success of an in-house team has been evident. An update on the procurement of Auroura was provided, and Members were informed that the in-house team is currently the smallest it could be whilst covering the scope of work that it does. The value of new software was emphasised for supporting the team and the future use of QR codes for all residents was detailed. The Corporate Fire Safety Manager also addressed issues raised in relation to subcontractors and emphasised the ongoing work with BDO to avoid similar procurement issues in the future. The Corporate Fire Safety Manager emphasised how pleased she was with the work of her team and the progress made in a short period of time to address the Internal Auditor’s recommendations.  

Councillor Smith thanked the Corporate Fire Safety Manager for the ongoing work and progress made, noting the reassurance she found in the report. 

The Chair queried whether all data recording has now been transferred to the QL system.  

The Corporate Fire Safety Manager clarified that this transfer would be complete within the coming weeks, at which time all data will be automatically dropped into the QL system.  

The Internal Auditor explained that weekly meetings are now also in place between the fire safety team and ODS which allows them to live edit existing spreadsheets together in the interim until the new software solution arrives in the coming weeks. 

The Committee reviewed and noted the report.