Issue - meetings

Report by Monitoring Officer

8.1       The Committee considered a report by the Monitoring Officer regarding the assessment of the Corporate Governance framework for 2016-17.

8.2       The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that he had amended the table in Appendix 1 of the report in response to supportive comments of the Audit, Best Value and Community Services (ABVCS) Scrutiny Committee.  The table now additionally indicates a contribution to ‘Practice in relation to transparency, reporting and audit to deliver effective accountability’ by the following policies and processes:

·         Procurement Standing Orders and Corporate Procurement Strategy;

·         Code of Conduct for Employees;

·         Code of conduct for Members;

·         Anti Fraud & Corruption Strategy;

·         Confidential Reporting (Whistle-blowing) Policy;

·         Anti Money Laundering Policy;

·         Financial Regulations & Standard Financial Procedures; and,

·         Freedom of Information Policy.

8.3       The Committee RESOLVED –

1)            to approve the action plan for the next year;

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

3)            to 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)            to note the amendments to Appendix 1 of the report (Local Code of Corporate Governance – key policies and processes) resulting from comments of the Audit, Best Value and Community Services Scrutiny Committee; and

5)            to approve the Annual Governance Statement for signature by the Leader and the Chief Executive and publication within the Statement of Accounts.

Report by the Monitoring Officer

9.1       The Assistant Chief Executive in his role as Monitoring Officer introduced the report.

9.2       The Committee discussed the Table at Appendix 1, and suggested that further policies and processes could be added to column 8, in terms of their relation to the transparency of the organisation.  The Assistant Chief Executive agreed to review the Table and amend it where necessary.

9.3       The Committee RESOLVED to (1) note the report; and

(2) confirm that, subject to the issue raised in minute 9.2, there were no changes to the report that the Committee wished to recommend to the Governance Committee.