Continuous Improvement to Policies and Procedures
The City of Vaughan has undergone great change over the last 20 years and more change is planned for the next two decades. What once worked for a small town is no longer valid for a large urban centre. The City’s goal is continuous improvement in how we operate in order to achieve greater efficiencies.
As part of this process, the Audit and Operational Review Committee has recommended a complete review and analysis of all the City’s departments, which will take place in the months to come and keep the City at the forefront of technological innovation and operational best practices. The audit process of every city department is now more than two-thirds complete.
The Council Member Expense Policy has been completed and is now in effect. It lists expenses that may be charged against a Council Member’s own office budget, or against the Council corporate budget. It includes ‘eligible’ and ‘ineligible’ expenses, and may include a written explanation.
The policy underwent a number of revisions and amendments as a result of recommendations approved by the Audit and Operational Review Committee in February. The recommendations now form part of the
policy and the City Auditor was assigned the
July 20, 2010 Update |
task of reviewing and ensuring compliance with the Expense Policy.
There was an initial learning curve for everyone involved and it became evident that certain sections of the Policy still required refinement for further clarity, less ambiguity and better understanding. The City Auditor will make the appropriate refinements and those changes will be presented to the Audit and Operational Review Committee in a few months’ time.
Part of the continuous improvement process also includes audits of every City department based on the risk-based audit work plan. The City Auditor made a number of recommendations in his reports to improve controls, mitigate risk, and improve corporate governance, efficiency and effectiveness of the operations audited. The City Auditor followed up with all departments as to the status of the recommendations and whether or not they have been implemented, are in progress, or have not yet started the reasons for the delay.
A total of 472 audit recommendations were included in the Internal Audit Reports of the City operations audited. Of these, 450 recommendations were implemented by the departments, 14 recommendations were in progress and eight recommendations were deferred. Overall, the vast majority, over 98 per cent, have been implemented or are in progress.
The result of the implementation will improve efficiency, effectiveness, controls, risk management and corporate governance of these City departments.