Decision details

The Council’s current internal audit arrangements will terminate on 31st March 2019 and the Council will appoint a new internal audit provider.
On 18th October 2018 the Executive reviewed the report made to them and resolved that:
(i) With effect from 1 April 2019, the Council be authorised to join the Southern Internal Audit Partnership as a Key Stakeholder / Partner thereby securing market tested, quality assured and value for money Internal Audit services for the Council for a minimum period of five years.
(ii) The Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer, be authorised to enter into the joint working agreement with Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP).
The new provider will provide a secure market tested, quality assured and value for money Internal Audit services for the Council for a minimum period of five years.
The arrangement takes the form of joining an existing partnership arrangement and as such a Deed of Accession must be sealed on behalf of the Council.

The decision is to seal the Deed of Accession to join the Southern Internal Audit Partnership

Following extensive market and quality assurance testing, it has been evidenced that the recommended provider (SIAP) offers the best value for money and quality of service.
The Council will join the Partnership as a ‘discharge of function’ as permitted by the S101 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972
The Executive Report provides more detail about the rationale for the decision including:
1.Governance arrangements and the role of the Overview

Following extensive market and quality assurance testing, it has been evidenced that the recommended provider (SIAP) offers the best value for money and quality of service.
The Executive Report sets out the alternative options that were considered, including:
1.Joining a Shared Service
2.Use of established frameworks
3.Full OJEU Tender
It was concluded that on both price and quality the preferred option is the
Southern Internal Audit Partnership. This opinion has been examined and is supported
by the responsible officer for Internal Audit and the Section 151 Officer of the Council.
“In accordance with S101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Council can discharge its functions through other bodies without undertaking a full review of the market. In order to ensure SIAP offered value for money their offering was evaluated against the specification and met all requirements.”