Agenda item

Mr Paul McMenamin presented the final audited annual report and statutory accounts for 2016/17.  He advised that the local authority annual accounting code of practice had been applied in producing the annual accounts.  The draft accounts had been brought to the Audit Committee on 26 June for review, were submitted to Audit Scotland for scrutiny and the final accounts were presented to the committee and incorporated the external auditor audit opinion and the audit report.

Mr McMenamin recorded thanks to colleagues from Audit Scotland and particularly Graham Samson for his positive and supportive approach to undertaking the audit and he suggested the accompanying management report was testimony to the understanding shown and support provided.  

Mr David Davidson enquired about indentifying and quantifying risk.  Mr McMenamin commented that considerable work on risk had taken place although it had remained unseen and a refresh was to be commenced.  He advised that the mechanism through which that refresh would take place would be through the joint management team reporting to the Chief Officer and the three practitioner managers who would be pursuing updating the strategic and operational risk registers.

Mr McMenamin further commented that Sandra Pratt had been appointed as the Interim Chief Officer and interviews for a permanent appointment were being held.  It was anticipated that a new Chief Officer would take up post within the next 3-4 months.  He also advised that Susan Swan would be taking over as Interim Chief Financial Officer and a plan for that transition was being put in place.

Mr John Raine enquired about governance and transparency and Mrs Jill Stacey commented that part of the external audit process had an element of placing reliance on internal audit work and there were some elements of governance identified as part of the internal audit work and a risk management strategy was one of those observations.  It was in regard to having an approved strategy that was not in full effect.  She further commented that risk management was a key element of risk governance and the internal audit report had identified that the Board fulfilled its remit and was clear about its strategic priorities and internal audit would support and guide the Board to fulfil its remit.

Mr Raine challenged the specifics given the Board had not expressed that view and it was the view of internal audit.  He enquired if Audit Scotland had suggested improvements were identified had they also been identified by internal audit.  Mrs Stacey confirmed that they had been identified by both.

Mr Raine enquired about the specific issue of the allocation of the £6m Integrated Care Fund being the responsibility of the Integration Joint Board to determine.  Mr McMenamin advised that in year 1 and at an operational level, the Board had focused on building governance and financial governance arrangements, which he determined had distracted the Board from focusing on commissioning strategic outcomes.  He suggested the Board had been driven by the direction of finance, both social care funding and integrated care funding.  However, he suggested the Board were now identifying the strategic role that it was required to fulfil. 

Mr Raine commented that if the Board decided to devote the integrated care fund to actions that would reduce delayed discharges, that it would be a strategic decision by the Board in discharging its objectives.  Mr McMenamin agreed that such a scenario would be deemed as the Board exercising its strategic responsibility.

Mr David Davidson quoted that the “2017/18 Financial Plan remains draft” and he sought assurance in regard to finalisation.  Mr McMenamin commented that sustainability was a key audit dimension.

Mr Davidson noted that on page 5 the Transport Hub had received a substantial sum of funding and 150 hospital appointments had been supported.  He enquired what assistance had been provided to the main bus providers to provide services to outlaying areas.  Mr McMenamin commented that he would ask the Community Transport Manager to provide an update outwith the meeting.

The HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE approved the report and approved the 2016/17 Annual Accounts.