The Governance & Standards Committee has decided to approve recommendations addressing significant governance issues within the Housing Repairs Service.

URL: https://mansfield.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1715

Decision Maker: Governance & Standards Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: In accordance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) and The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)’s Local Government Application Note (2019), this report details the following: ? The work undertaken by Internal Audit during 2024/2025 ? The key areas of assurance upon which the Corporate Assurance Manager has based his opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the organisation’s risk management, internal control and governance processes and ? The results of the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP).

Content: The Corporate Assurance Manager presented a summary of the Annual Report 2024/2025.  Members were informed that the report detailed the work undertaken by Internal Audit 2024/2025.   Members were referred to page 78 of the report which detailed the work undertaken.   The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that in the period 2024/2025 they had a reduced resource but were now fully manned.   Members were referred to Table 1 and Table 2 of the report and informed that there was only one area to highlight on page 87 related to non-compliance with legislation or ineffective governance leading to challenge.  Members were informed that there was a significant governance issue  related to work being allocated by the Housing Repairs Service to external contractors without complying with the requirements of the Council/s Contract Procedure Rules or approved decision-making processes.  This led from an investigation in the Housing Repairs Service and led to  the discovery of none compliance with the contract procedures and governance arrangements.  This has resulted in a part of the qualification of the Corporate Assurance Manager’s opinion regarding the effectiveness of the governance arrangements which were overall high level of compliance with.   Members were informed that a detailed report would be brought to the Committee in September once the investigation has been completed.   Members were informed that the performance of internal audit had been fully achieved.   Members were referred to page 93 where the Quality Assurance Improvement Programme was tabled for 2024/2025.  Members were informed that there had been no issues around this.   Members were provided with an overview of 4.20 to 4.24 of the report.   The Corporate Assurance Manager based on the results within the reporting period was satisfied that the Council had adequate and effective governance arrangements except for the significant governance issues identified within Housing Repairs; adequate and effective risk management arrangements and adequate and effective internal control processes.   The Chair thanked the Corporate Assurance Manager and his team for their hard work.   Members agreed that it was satisfying to have such a good report.   Councillor Coxhead queried paragraph 4.22 and asked how the areas were selected for Counter Fraud Testing and who selects them.   The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that this was linked to the Annual Counter Fraud Risk Register and any risks identified as high or medium risk.  The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that for this year they were reviewing large incoming grants for major projects.   Andrea Smith (Independent Member) queried the investigation referenced on page 87 and asked if this was related to employees and agency works as referenced previously regarding onboarding not being completed adequately.  As far as you can determine.   The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that it was a factor with the wider issue it was a big contributing factor due to the number of new agency personnel mostly from the private sector.  The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that there had not been any support mechanisms particularly on  procurement.  Also, due to the constant changing agency staff this became difficult.  The Corporate Assurance Manager advised that this was something that they would be looking at as part of the action plan to address this.   Councillor Coxhead proposed that the recommendations be approved, this was seconded by Councillor Moxon.  On putting the motion to the vote, the motion was unanimously approved.   Resolved: i ) That the work undertaken by Internal Audit and the real time proactive assurance received during 2024/2025 be noted.   ii) That the out turns for Internal Audit’s key performance indicators for 2024/2025 be noted   iii) That the key performance indicators to be adopted by Internal Audit for 2025/2026 be accepted   iv) That the outcomes from the QAIP for 2024/2025 be noted.   v) That the Corporate Assurance Manager’s opinion statement on the Council’s risk management, internal control and governance processes be accepted.    

Date of Decision: July 9, 2025