A report on the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25 for publication with the Council’s financial statements.

The Committee considered a report setting out the draft 2024/25 Annual Governance Statement (AGS), which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Council was required to prepare and publish an AGS each year as an accompaniment to the authority’s financial statements.  The Council was responsible for ensuring that its financial management was adequate and effective and that it had a sound system of internal control, which facilitated the effective exercise of the Council’s functions, including arrangements for the management of risk.  The AGS was a record of the overall effectiveness of governance arrangements within the Authority; it reflected the latest guidance from CIPFA/SOLACE on a strategic approach to governance and demonstrated how the key governance requirements had been met. 

The report stated that the AGS now incorporated new guidance in relation to the Council’s Best Value duty.  The enhanced and restructured AGS demonstrated the Council’s continued commitment to maintaining the robust governance arrangements while addressing emerging challenges and regulatory requirements.

Assistant Directors and Executive Directors had completed Annual Assurance Statements in respect of governance and internal control arrangements for their respective areas. The improvements to governance arrangements and internal control which had been identified were set out in the AGS.  The AGS stated that, having undertaken the review, the Council was satisfied that suitable and appropriate governance arrangements were in place but identified further improvements that were set out in the conclusion of the AGS.

It was noted that the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services would be making any necessary minor amendments to the draft AGS in consultation with the Leader and Chief Executive, prior to signature of the final AGS by the Leader and Chief Executive.  The Committee’s role was to review the AGS prior to approval, to consider whether it properly reflected the risk environment and supporting assurances, including the head of internal audit’s annual opinion, and to consider whether the annual evaluation for the AGS fairly concluded that governance arrangements were fit for purpose, supporting the achievement of the Council’s objectives.

Resolved:    

(1)          That the Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25 be noted;

(2)          That the Committee considered that the annual evaluation for the AGS fairly concluded that governance arrangements were fit for purpose, supporting the achievement of the Council’s objectives.