Meeting documents

Dr Louis Lee, Chairman of the Joint Independent Audit Committee will present the report.

Members received the Annual Assurance Report from the Chairman of the TVP/OPCC Joint Independent Audit Committee, Dr Louis Lee. The JIAC is a key component of the PCC and Chief Constable’s arrangements for securing effective corporate governance and provides an independent and high-level focus on the audit, assurance and reporting arrangements that underpin good governance and financial management and reporting standards. This is the Committee’s fifth Annual Report.

Dr Louis Lee presented the report which highlighted the following:-

• The external auditor Ernst and Young had issued an unqualified audit opinion and an unqualified value for money conclusion for both the PCC and Chief Constable.
• The JIAC has continued their scrutiny around ICT and its impact on force change management, the delivery of force financial performance and operational effectiveness. This was as a result of serious concerns raised the previous year. Reports presented to the Committee showed that positive progress was visible across the ICT business areas. There was a response to the Wannacry Malware incident that had attacked certain NHS Trust computer systems. There were no occurrences in TVP which showed that there are resilient and good processes in place.
• The Annual Treasury Management Strategy has been reviewed and scrutinised robustly and there was nothing of concern.
• JIAC Members were satisfied that both the PCC’s Chief Financial Officer and the Force Director of Finance have the necessary capability and capacity to ensure the proper administration of their financial affairs.
• JIAC Members remain observers on the Hampshire/TVP Bilateral Governance Board.
• JIAC Members received regular quarterly updates from both the Force and the PCC in terms of their strategic risk management systems and processes. Members were satisfied that the business continuity management processes were operating efficiently and effectively in identifying issues and capturing organisational learning.
• The Committee received the annual report from the Chief Internal Auditor and all of the planned audits were completed. Of the 20 audits one had received substantial assurance, 12 had received reasonable assurance and 7 had received limited assurance.
• There were no significant governance issues that required immediate attention nor were there any potential issues that could have an adverse impact on the internal control environment.
• JIAC Members are observers of the bi-monthly meetings of the Complaints, Integrity and Ethics Panel to gain assurance from a government perspective that the PCC and Chief Constable’s arrangements for the proper handling of complaints made against the Force and consideration of other integrity and ethics issues is subject to effective oversight.
• In terms of health and safety and the environment, JIAC Members were pleased to note the continued reduction in total safety incidents and that TVP was one of the best performing forces nationally in this area.
• A survey was sent to all JIAC Members and there were positive comments about the working of the Committee. Key points on the analysis are outlined on page 123 of the agenda.
• The year ahead will be very challenging when a number of leading edge digital policing developments would be brought into service.

During discussion Members asked the following:-

• Cllr Patman asked about the Police ICT company and whether various principles were being applied nationally across all the Forces. Dr Louis Lee reported that this company had more to learn from TVP who seemed to be leading the way on technology. A number of projects were being undertaken at regional level with collaborative projects across four Forces. The Chief Constable reported that the new Chief Executive of the Police ICT company was taking a lead in enabling programmes across the Country.
• Cllr Burke made reference to a Police Federation article that referred to a postcode lottery in terms of getting health and wellbeing support for officers. The Chief Constable reported that often officers were worried about declaring mental health issues because of the stigma around this area and therefore they had put in place mental health champions and had links with MIND. One of the areas that had not been cut, unlike other Forces was the occupational therapy department. TVP have invested significantly to change the culture of mental health. The Deputy PCC also pointed out that the reference to a ‘postcode lottery’ in the Police Federation article was a reference to the level of support available from respective local health services, rather than from forces.

The Chairman thanked Dr Louis Lee for attending the Panel and providing such a thorough report.