Agenda item

The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance submitted a report presenting the Authority’s draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2020/21.  A copy of the draft Statement was appended to the report.

The Committee noted that the AGS was a statutory requirement as defined in the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and had been prepared following an annual governance review process as reported at a previous meeting.

An Action Plan had been prepared to capture issues raised through the review process and this document would form the basis for the Committee monitoring throughout the year.  The Action Plan was appended as Appendix 1 to the Draft Annual Governance Statement and outlined the items upon which further action was required.  An update of the Action Plan would be submitted to the Committee throughout the year.

With regard to the Action Plan, reference was made to, and there was a discussion of, the need to improve compliance with the completion of annual forms (Declaration of Interest) and their subsequent availability and use.  It was noted that a robust process was in place to ensure that Elected Member Declarations were collected and published in a timely manner and in compliance with the required regulations.  In addition, appropriate arrangements were in place to ensure that staff declarations were completed correctly.  Further work was required, however, to ensure that this information was easily accessible and available and that managers knew how to access and use this information appropriately.

RESOLVED:

(i)            That the draft AGS, which reflects the governance arrangements in place and the actions arising from the annual governance review process be noted;

(ii)          That the final AGS be presented to the Committee at its meeting to be held on the 17^th November, 2021 where the Final Accounts will be presented alongside the External Auditor’s ISA 260 report and thereafter to the Council on the 25^th November, 2021 for approval; and

(iii)         That the Committee receive updates on the progress of the actions identified in the AGS Action Plan at future meetings.