Agenda item

Internal Audit Plan 2019-20

Minutes:

ACARAC (02-19) Paper 4 – Internal Audit Plan 2019-20

3.1        Due to this meeting being so soon after the February meeting, there were no internal audit reports to present.  Any reports approved before the June meeting would be shared with the Committee in advance.

3.2        Gareth confirmed that he was covering the role of designated Data Protection Officer for the Commission and explained the arrangement that had been put in place with the office of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to provide cover for the data protection and GDPR function during a period of maternity leave.

3.3        Gareth had also been involved in discussions with the Electoral Commission around proposed changes to governance arrangements contained in the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill.  He agreed to provide a note of potential implications for the Assembly Commission when more information was available.

3.4        In relation to the review of procurement, Committee members discussed how the Commission could better engage with small Welsh suppliers.  One member of the Committee advised of attendance at a meeting with the local Chambers of Commerce where this issue had been discussed.  Dave Tosh agreed to discuss with Ann Beynon and Jan Koziel (Head of Procurement) options to engage with relevant organisations to inform the Commission’s procurement strategy to better understand supply chain barriers to engaging with the public sector.

3.5        The Committee questioned the focus of audit work on the Business Directorate.  Gareth and Siwan Davies had discussed the timing of future audits and the scope of that work, but Siwan was in the process of appointing a Head of Committee Service, who would be responsible for leading this work. 

3.6        The Chair welcomed the opportunity to be involved in discussions with Gareth and Siwan on the terms of reference for the end to end Committee review. 

3.7        Gareth thanked the Committee for their comments and was happy to receive further suggestions about his audit plan by email.  He agreed to share the review of the Leadership Team and Executive Board with the Chair and was happy to re-schedule the sickness absence review to ensure a report was approved in time for the autumn Public Accounts Committee (PAC) scrutiny session.

3.8        Gareth confirmed that his annual report, to be presented in June, would capture any outstanding recommendations.

Actions

      (3.4) Gareth to provide a note of potential implications for Assembly Commission governance arrangements arising from proposals relating to the Electoral Commission contained in the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill.  

      (3.5) Dave to discuss with Ann Beynon and Jan Koziel options to engage with relevant organisations to inform the Commission’s procurement strategy to better understand supply chain barriers.

      (3.6) Gareth and Siwan to engage in discussions with Bob on plans for assurance reviews within the Assembly Business Directorate.

      (3.8) Committee members to provide comments to Gareth on the 2019-20 Internal Audit Plan.

      (3.8) Gareth to share his report on the review of Leadership Team and Executive Board with Chair when available.

-     (3.8) Gareth to bring forward the sickness absence review to ensure a report is approved in time for the autumn PAC scrutiny session.