Decision details

To seek the necessary formal approvals to enable the Council to join Veritau Public Sector Ltd which will provide the internal audit service, and to withdraw the formal delegation to the present provider Leicestershire County Council.

To:

a)         Note the intention of the Director of Finance to appoint Veritau Public Sector Ltd as the City’s internal audit provider.

b)         Approve the Council becoming a member of Veritau Public Sector Ltd (a private company limited by guarantee without share capital), subject to the City Barrister and Head of Standards and the Director of Finance being content with the detailed terms and risk assessment.

c)         Approve the business case for Veritau Public Sector Ltd, supporting the Council’s exercise of s95 of the Local Government Act 2003 (undertaking commercial activities).

d)         Approve the formal withdrawal of the delegation of the internal audit service to Leicestershire County Council, from 1 August 2024, or such later date as determined by the Director of Finance; and in a form approved by the City Barrister and Head of Standards.

e)         Approve the Council providing indemnities to North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council regarding Veritau Public Sector Ltd being a community admission body to the North Yorkshire Local Government Pension Fund, subject to the Director of Finance being content with the detailed terms.

The Director of Finance concluded that in the interests of best meeting her statutory duty in the context of the very significant challenges facing the Council over the coming years, the future arrangements for the provision of internal audit services should be reviewed. 

Not to approve the Council becoming a member of Veritau Public Sector Ltd and not withdrawing the present delegation to Leicestershire County Council.