COUNCILLORS will hear later this week that Thurrock Council's internal auditing process still has considerable progress to make, with two out of three prime indicators failing to improve year on year.

The council's standards and audit committee will receive a presentation on Thursday (8 July) from its chief internal auditor Gary Clifford that some issues about the awarding and management of major contracts – including the A13 widening and the Stanford rail station rebuild - by the council remain.

He says: "Following on from last years' opinion, where we identified some governance issues around major projects, the council brought in a specialist consultancy firm to review one of these contracts.

"This work was carried out during March/April 2020 and recommendations made to improve oversight and governance of the contract.

"In addition, and at their request, the Standards & Audit Committee have been regularly updated on the performance and financial issues around the major projects.

"In 2020/21, the council reviewed its project management methodology and piloted a new project management process. This work is on-going but was reviewed by internal audit as part of its planned work during 2020 and recommendations made which were accepted by management.

"We have also looked at the governance arrangements in specific areas of the council's operations and where we have identified issues, the council has reacted swiftly to address them. As the project management and major contract work is on-going, our overall opinion on governance for 2020/21 remains the same as the previous year which is 'Amber'."

There was a similar report around 'assurance' where Mr Clifford details a number of issues.

His report says: "In total, all 11 assurance reports we issued received a positive (Green or Amber/Green) assurance opinion.

"We also issued four advisory reports. Whilst advisory reports do not provide a specific assurance opinion, they do contain recommendations and provide assurance around operations.

"Ad hoc work was also carried out to investigate complaints relating to concerns raised by management at a sheltered housing complex, a complaint around the awarding of a contract following a procurement exercise and checks of claims made as part of the Troubled Families Programme.

"The work is continuing around the major contracts and projects so our overall opinion for 2020/21 remains the same as 2019/20 which is 'Amber'."

However, the council has given itself a green rating for the management of its finances, despite a controversial year when a number of questions have been asked about its borrowing to invest policy, which at one point saw the council owing more than £1 billion. And a High Court judge rubbished the work and ethics of a high profile consultant paid more than £5 million by the council.

In his report Mr Clifford acknowledges there is work still to be done to improve risk management but concludes:: "Whilst the corporate risk management framework and processes are robust, the council still needs to do more at the operational/service planning level to move to the final stage on the spectrum which is that of a Risk Enabled organisation.

"The capacity and resources available mean that the current rating is very good. Therefore, our overall opinion on risk management remains the same as 2019/20 which is 'Green'."

The report can be read here.