Report 5: 2019-20

Fraud Prevention in Local Government

Appendix 4: Full responses from audited entities

Shire of East Pilbara

Specific responses to recommendations

The Shire of East Pilbara agreed with all recommendations. They provided additional comments on recommendations:

  1. Agree. But it is noted that the Shire of East Pilbara does have a Fraud and Corruption Plan. Our priority should be to deploy the plan effectively within the organisation and to undertake regular reviews internally
  2. Agree. Conflicts of interest are recorded for elected members and key officers who are writing reports and/or attending Council meetings. It is noted that conflicts of interest for staff need to be recorded and this practice needs to be embedded further within the organisation.

Shire of Katanning

Specific responses to recommendations

The Shire of Katanning agreed with all recommendations.

City of Nedlands

The City is encouraged by the audit work of the Office of Auditor General in the local government space and believes that its work to date in providing clarity on governance inconsistencies and interpretation in local government, which is long overdue.

Specific responses to recommendations

The City of Nedlands agreed with all recommendations and advised they will aim to implement a streamlined and coordinated approach towards risk management within the next 18 months. They provided additional comment on recommendations:

  1. Agree. In the past, the City has conducted an organisation wide Risk Assessment program which incorporated a fraud risk assessment. However, the City will aim to undertake the first full fraud risk assessment within next 18 months.
  2. Agree. The City will aim to develop and implement a control plan within 8 months.
  3. Agree. 2019/20 training will be scheduled followed by annual training.
  4. Agree. The City agrees that all conflicts of interest are to be recorded and assessed. At present, the implemented process is to record, assess and manage the declared conflict of interest by the Elected Members and staff for any matter to be discussed at Council meetings. Based on this recommendation the City agrees that procedures should be in place for assessing and recording all conflicts of interest; however, is not aware of the nature, content or need for management plans to achieve this. The City will aim to implement an appropriate Procedure within 8 months.
  5. Agree. It is noted that the need for and extent of verification, is a matter to be considered within proper risk assessment, as part of policy and procedures scope. At present, there are verification processes in place for both employees and suppliers. However, there is definitely room for the improvement in this area. Accordingly, the City will aim to review and update its HR and suppliers’ policies and procedures within 12 months.
  6. Agree. The City will aim to implement this within 12 months.
  7. Agree. Once the work around the implementation of streamlined and coordinated approach towards fraud risk management is completed, the City will be able to perform the above task on an ongoing basis.

Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale

The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale welcomes the findings and subsequent recommendations of the 2019 Performance Audit for Fraud Prevention in Local Governments. It considers that the report is a balanced representation of areas and a good platform to work towards enhanced fraud management activities.

Specific responses to recommendations

The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale agreed with all recommendations. They provided additional comment on recommendations:

  1. Agree. The Shire will continue the fraud risk activities scheduled in the Internal Audit – Interim Audit Plan 2019. Outcomes of the initial risk / control activities will be transitioned to the updated Risk Framework when complete. Timeframe: April 2020.
  2. Agree. The Shire will build a framework for management of fraud with a view to integrate into ongoing awareness and training processes inclusive of periodic review. Timeframe: April 2020
  3. Agree. The Shire is in the process of implementing a learning and development management system. Induction and code of conduct are scheduled to be the initial modules to be implemented. The modules will be required on a periodic basis and be supported with audit trails and electronic signatures for tracking attendance. Timeframe: December 2019.
  4. Agree. Building upon processes implemented to capture all conflicts of interest, the Shire is in the process of rolling out a consistent conflict of interest awareness process and supporting policy / procedure environment. Once the learning and development management system is implemented the Shire will progress to implement a specific module within the system. Timeframe: April 2020.
  5. Agree. Employees – Policies will be reviewed to document a risk based approach to the screening of employees including enhancing the approach to assess qualifications, references and background searches. Suppliers – Policies will be reviewed to document a risk based approach to the screening for suppliers including consideration of legal history and checking of supplier Directors. Timeframe: December 2019.
  6. Agree. Whistle-blower processes are scheduled to progress. The scope and approach of the processes will be informed by the recommendations of the report. Timeframe: October 2019.
  7. Agree. Whistle-blower processes are scheduled to progress. The scope and approach of the processes will be informed by the recommendation of the report. April 2020.

City of Vincent

The City of Vincent (City) accepts the finding in the report and acknowledges that there are gaps in the City’s current management and reporting of potential fraud. The City will table the Summary of Findings to its Audit Committee in August 2019, along with a management plan to address the recommendations identified. The management plan will be monitored by the Audit Committee to ensure all items are adequately completed.

Specific responses to recommendations

The City of Vincent agreed with all recommendations. They provided additional comment on recommendations:

  1. Governance will develop and implement a program for the annual review of fraud risks across the business. The proposed implementation date is June 2020. The findings of the annual review will be tabled at Audit Committee, with any items requiring action being included in the Audit Log and monitored by the Audit Committee until completion.
  2. Governance will review the City’s current Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy and prepare a control plan which incorporates this policy. The proposed implementation date for the plan is June 2020. The plan will be reported to Audit Committee annually and updated as required.
  3. Human Resources with the support of Governance will develop and implement an online fraud awareness training program to be completed by all staff. New staff will be required to complete the training as part of their online induction process and current staff will receive notification to complete the training annually via the induction portal. The proposed implementation date is January 2020.
  4. The City currently has a register for Elected Members and senior staff as required by the Local Government Act 1995 and a register to capture and manage any other actual, perceived or potential staff conflicts of interest. Governance, in coordination with Human Resources, will ensure all staff are aware of the conflict of interest disclosure requirements and provide training for new staff as part of the induction process.
  5. Human Resources will develop and implement a recruitment and selection policy and procedure (which will include identity and integrity checks) for the City. Human Resources will periodically monitor employees for change of circumstances via a declaration form which WALGA are currently preparing to supply to Local Governments. The proposed implementation date is January 2020. Finance will review and update the City’s supplier verification process. The proposed implementation date is December 2019.
  6. The City will investigate systems and processes to report any potential fraud, including anonymous reporting. The proposed implementation date is December 2020.
  7. The fraud reporting system, as referred to in 6. above, should enable this data to be easily compiled. Governance will periodically review the data.

 

 

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