To receive a report on the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20 for publication with the Council’s accounts.

Mike Graham, Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services, submitted a report setting out the updated action plan for the 2019/20 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. 

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 and included measures to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Having undertaken this 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.

The Committee reflected on the content of its agendas and the predominance of audit-related items.  It was agreed that the balance of business should be reviewed with the aim of including more items about the Council’s governance arrangements at future meetings.

Resolved:    

(1)      That the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20 be approved for publication with the Council’s accounts;

(2)      That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, be authorised to make any necessary amendments before final publication;

(3)      That the business of the Committee be reviewed with the intention of increasing the number governance-related items on future agendas.

(Councillor Davies declared a non-pecuniary in this item: Nature of interest Councillor Davies had received support from the Small Business Grant Fund).