Issue - meetings

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

15.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive on the annual review of the Corporate Governance Framework for 2019/20 together with an addendum providing  a commentary on the steps the Authority took in response to the Covid19 pandemic.

15.2     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)         approve the action plan for 2020/21;

2)         note that actions identified to enhance governance arrangements are reflected in Business Plans and that implementation will be monitored throughout the year;

3)         confirm that Members are satisfied with the level of assurance provided to them through this report and the Council’s governance framework and processes;

4)         agreed that the addition proposed by the Audit Committee as set out in paragraph 1.6 should be included in the Business Services actions at Annex A to the Annual Governance Statement;

5)         identify any significant governance issues that should be included in the Council’s Annual Governance Statement; and

6)         approve the Annual Governance Statement (including the addendum) for signature by the Leader and the Chief Executive and publication within the Statement of Accounts

Report by the Assistant Chief Executive

15.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive.  He set out the Internal Audit opinion of substantial assurance following their review of the process to develop the Annual Governance Statement.

15.2     The Assistant Chief Executive highlighted Annex B as being new this year in response to best practice recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life regarding bodies owned or established by the Authority. As had been agreed by the Governance Committee,  the Annex covered those bodies which are a separate legal entity on which the County Council is a member or has appointed a Member or officer as a director.  The Assistant Chief Executive sought the views of the Committee which would be reported to the Governance Committee.  

15.3     The Committee RESOLVED to (1) note the report;

(2) recommend to the Governance Committee that the following should be added to the Business Services (BSD) actions at Annex A to the Annual Governance Statement: Report on progress towards full implementation of the Requirements and Recommendations of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, including information in Part 3 of the Code; and

(3) request that the format of Appendix 1 be reviewed. .