Purpose

The Council seeks approval to agree Call-Off Contracts to access Internal Audit and Advisory Services from the Cross Council Assurance Service (CCAS) Framework Agreement procured by the London Borough of Barnet. Accessing the framework enables the Council to access expert external assurance and advisory services, access specialist capability (including digital, data, AI-enabled audit and analytics), shared learning and benchmarking where required, to support existing in-house resource.

Decision

1. This report is for publication however the appendices 1, 2, and 3 are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
2. Approval for the Council to enter into an Access Agreement with the London Borough of Barnet to access the CCAS OFA for the provision of Internal Audit (Lot 1) and Advisory Services (Lot 2).
3. To note the Access agreement shall continue until the expiry or termination of the CCS OFA, which shall operate for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option for extension by further period(s) up to five (5) years.
4. Delegate the award of Call-off Order Forms for the provision of Internal Audit services from Lot 1 of the CCAS OFA when required by the Council, to be approved and monitored by the Head of Audit, Fraud and Risk Management.
5. Delegate the award of Call-off Order Forms for the provision of Advisory Services from Lot 2 of the CCAS OFA when required by the Council, to be approved and monitored by the Head of Audit, Fraud and Risk Management.