Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

Contact: David Gallie, [email protected], 020 7983 4968.

The Committee is recommended, prior to the Mayor’s Decision under section 401A of the Greater London Authority Act, to give comments on the Metropolitan Police Authority’s (MPA) Shared Service Proposal for Greater London Authority (GLA) Internal Audit, which proposes that the MPA discharge the GLA’s internal audit function from 1 April 2011.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Resources, which represented consultation by the Mayor with the London Assembly, as required in law, in relation to the proposed shared services arrangement between the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) in respect of the MPA’s discharge of the GLA’s internal audit function.

8.2  In response to a question about what would happen once the MPA was abolished, the Assistant Director of Finance explained that the MPA’s functions (including the internal audit function) would be transferred to its successor body, the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPC).  Caroline Pidgeon AM stated that she hoped that some of the expertise from the MPA would transfer to the London Assembly to assist it to undertake its scrutiny work of the MOPC.

8.3  Members of the Committee who were also Members of the MPA commented on the very good service the MPA’s Directorate of Audit, Risk and Assurance provide to the MPA’s Governance and Audit Panel.

8.4  Roger Evans AM, Chair of the Audit Panel, stated that the Audit Panel had considered the proposal and had been content with it but had been concerned to ensure the independence of the internal audit function from the executive.  If the Committee were to support the proposal, and subject to the Mayor agreeing it, the Audit Panel would review how the arrangement was working later in the year and would consider a detailed internal audit plan at its next meeting on 8 March 2011. 

8.5  The Committee welcomed the internal audit shared services proposal.  Members expressed disappointment with the lack of progress on other potential areas for shared services. The Chair commented that the Mayoral Adviser on Budgets and Performance was scheduled to attend the Committee’s meeting on 27 April 2011 to update it on the progress of shared services and the Committee confirmed its contentment with that timing. 

8.6  Resolved:

That it be agreed, prior to the Mayor’s Decision under section 401A of the Greater London Authority Act, to support the Metropolitan Police Authority’s (MPA) Shared Service Proposal for Greater London Authority (GLA) Internal Audit, which proposes that the MPA discharge the GLA’s internal audit function from 1 April 2011.