Issue - meetings

This report seeks the Committee’s approval of the draft Annual Governance Statement 2021-2022.

The Committee received a report seeking approval of the draft Annual Governance Statement 2021-2022.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Chief Internal Auditor’s Annual Opinion. Following a question from a Member, the Head of Corporate Assurance informed the Committee that the Chief Internal Auditor’s Annual Opinion was referenced within the report and was included as a later item on the agenda.

b)            Demonstration of compliance with principles. A Member of the Committee expressed the view that the documents listed on page 28 of the agenda pack set out the behavioural framework followed by the Council rather than providing evidence of how compliance with the principle had been achieved. It was noted that Officers would consider this matter for future reports.

c)            Action dates for issues. The Committee noted that recommendations from the Annual Governance Statement were included on an action tracker maintained by Officers. The Committee was informed that the ICT Strategy would be presented to the Strategy and Resources Committee in September 2022.

d)            Attachment to Financial Statements. The Committee noted that the Council’s External Auditor would review the Annual Governance Statement during their consideration of the Council’s annual financial statements.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 7 votes for and 1 vote against, to:

(1)      Approve the 2021-2022 draft Annual Governance Statement as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, prior to it being signed by the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee.

(2)      Give delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer to make any required amendments to the Annual Governance Statement prior to its submission with the Statement of Accounts.