This report provides an update on progress of the Programme workstreams and their deliverables against the Plan since the last meeting.

Chris Tidswell, CIPFA, presented a report providing an update on progress of the Finance Improvement Programme (FIP) against the plan for each workstream and their deliverables.  The report explained that the FIP had two key phases:  Phase I was responding to the historic and current issues identified to ensure a sound foundation and ‘getting the basics’ right.  The second phase would concentrate on embedding Phase I delivery and developing the financial management culture and governance framework across the Council. 

The audit tracker recommendations (see Minute 9 below) continued to be included within individual workstream deliverables where appropriate and were managed as part of the Plan.  There were now 17 (previously 9) recommendations within the tracker covered by the Finance Improvement Programme. These were rated as; Red 8 (2), Amber 4 (3), and Green 5 (4). The increase in recommendations and the number of those ‘red’ rated related to recent audits on Reconciliations and Accounts Receivable which had been completed since the last Committee.

The report highlighted each workstream’s terms of reference and progress against the Plan.  The report set out each workstream’s RAG rating for its deliverables and Audit Tracker recommendations with the previously reported numbers shown in brackets for reference.

The report also set out the progress made to re-procure the finance system, which was being carried out by the Finance System Board, comprising stakeholders from each Directorate and BFfC.  System testing by the project team would be carried out in August and September 2022 and would be followed by system testing by users across all Directorates and BFfC. The timing of training for all service users and final preparations for go-live would be confirmed in July 2022

Resolved:     That the progress being made to implement the Finance Improvement Programme be noted.