The Audit Committee of Wandsworth Council met on Wednesday, 13th September 2017, to review the Annual Governance Statement, the Council's Accounts, and the use of investigatory powers. Key decisions included adopting the Annual Governance Statement with a commitment to further discuss concerns regarding Adult Social Services, and approving the recommendations for the Council's Accounts and External Auditors Communication.

Annual Governance Statement

The Committee reviewed the Annual Governance Statement, which assesses the effectiveness of the Council's governance arrangements. A significant point of discussion was the No Assurance rating for Adult Social Services Department, Direct Payments. Councillor Heaster, the Chairman, emphasised the need for heightened awareness of accountability and responsibility following the Grenfell Tower fire, particularly concerning resilience planning. The Committee expressed concern about the No Assurance rating, noting it was the first time a Council department had received this category. It was agreed that the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Opposition Speaker, and the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health would meet with the Director of Adult Social Services to address these issues.

Regarding Children's Services Department, specifically Education, Health and Care Plans, Councillor Carpenter raised concerns about the matter being outstanding for over 12 months. The Assistant Director of Children's Services (Performance and Planning) indicated that staffing issues were expected to be improved by March 2018.

Concerns were also raised about All Saints Co-op Ltd. (Housing Management Organisation), where Councillor Carpenter noted a lack of progress on agreed actions from June 2016. The Assistant Director of Resources (Financial Services) explained that a change in the organisation's management had caused delays, with a follow-up expected by the end of December 2017.

In relation to anti-virus controls, Councillor Carpenter expressed concern about inadequate PC protection. The Head of IT confirmed that all PCs now had up-to-date anti-virus software installed. The Committee also discussed tenancy fraud and misuse, with the Assistant Director of Resources (Financial Services) confident that the Council directed significant resources to this area, employing a combined proactive and reactive approach.

The Committee resolved to adopt the recommendation in paragraph 1 of Paper No. 17-262, with the understanding that a Members' meeting would be held with the Director of Adult Social Services to discuss the direct payments issue.

Council's Accounts and External Auditors Communication

The Committee congratulated the Director of Resources and his staff on completing the Council's accounts for the year ended 31st March 2017, acknowledging the complexities arising from the Shared Staffing Arrangement with Richmond Council and the introduction of a new ledger. The Executive Director from Ernst Young expressed satisfaction that an Unqualified Audit Opinion was expected for the year and noted that the Council was in a better financial position compared to the end of the previous financial year. The Committee resolved to approve the recommendations in paragraph 1 of Paper No. 17-263.

Council's Use of Provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The Committee approved the recommendation in paragraph 1 of Paper No. 17-264 regarding the Council's use of provisions under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000¹.

Inspection by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners

The Committee welcomed the positive findings from the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC)², which conducts inspections of public authorities authorised to make applications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The OSC report noted that Wandsworth Council has a very good policy, guidance and oversight regime and that its process for non-RIPA applications, such as those related to Blue Badge fraud, is exemplary . The Committee noted two recommendations from the OSC Inspection Report (November 2016) concerning under-age test purchases and extending guidance and training for the use of SNS and the internet. Details of the actions taken in response to these recommendations were attached to Paper No. 17-265.