Committee Report Checklist
Stage 1
Report checklist – responsibility of report owner
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ITEM |
Yes / No |
Date |
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Councillor engagement / input from Chair prior to briefing |
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Relevant Group Head review |
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MAT+ review (to have been circulated at least 5 working days before Stage 2) |
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This item is on the Forward Plan for the relevant committee |
Yes |
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Reviewed by |
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Finance comments (circulate to Finance) |
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Risk comments (circulate to Lee O’Neil) |
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Legal comments (circulate to Legal team) |
LH |
16/06/26 |
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HR comments (if applicable) |
NA |
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For reports with material financial or legal implications the author should engage with the respective teams at the outset and receive input to their reports prior to asking for MO or s151 comments.
Do not forward to stage 2 unless all the above have been completed.
Stage 2
Report checklist – responsibility of report owner
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ITEM |
Completed by |
Date rec’d |
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Monitoring Officer commentary – at least 5 working days before MAT |
L Heron |
16/06/26 |
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S151 Officer commentary – at least 5 working days before MAT |
T.Collier |
16/06/26 |
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Commissioner engagement |
LS and PR
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17/06/26 |
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Confirm final report cleared by MAT |
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Title |
Annual Governance Statement 2025-2026 |
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Purpose of the report |
To make a decision |
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Report Author |
Kirsty Hunt, Governance Support Officer |
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Ward(s) Affected |
All Wards |
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Exempt |
No |
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Exemption Reason |
NA |
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Corporate Priority |
This item is not in the current list of Corporate Priorities but still requires a Committee decision |
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Recommendations
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Committee is asked to: 1. Approve the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) appended to this report for submission as part of the draft Statement of Accounts. |
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Reason for Recommendation |
To ensure the Council complies with the statutory requirements to produce an Annual Governance Statement (AGS). The Council’s Constitution (Part 3 section (b)) requires the Audit Committee to be satisfied that the Council’s Annual Governance Statement properly reflects the risk environment and to take actions required to improve it. |
1. Executive summary of the report
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What is the situation |
Why we want to do something |
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The Council has a statutory duty to produce an Annual Governance Statement reviewing risks and appropriateness of controls and mitigations. This is due to be submitted by 30 June 2026 to accompany the draft statement of accounts. |
It is important to seek feedback early in the process to address any concerns raised and create a fit for purpose version. |
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This is what we want to do about it |
These are the next steps |
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Present the revised draft AGS for the Committee’s review and approval. |
Incorporate any final amendments for submission. |
2. Key issues
2.1 As previously reported the Council has adopted a local code of corporate governance which reflects guidance contained in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (CIPFA) and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) governance framework ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’.
2.2 The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) provides an overview of how the Council’s governance arrangements for the financial year 2025-26 operate, provides an assessment of their effectiveness, identifies areas of weaknesses and outlines the actions the Council will take over the next year to strengthen its governance arrangements.
2.3 The AGS forms a key piece of evidence for external auditor’s work and subsequent opinion on the control and governance arrangement of the Council.
2.4 Since going into intervention, governance improvements have been integrated into and monitored through the Improvement and Recovery Plan. The AGS provides an update on progress towards addressing the recommendations in the Best Value Inspection report.
2.5 Following consideration of the draft statement at its May meeting, the document has been reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure compliance with CIPFA standards. The following changes have been made:
· Refocusing of the opening statement into an Executive Summary, incorporating a clearer assessment of effectiveness
· Categorisation of issues highlighted in the 2025/26 AGS under Improvement and Recovery Themes, along with the key actions taken to strengthen governance
· Inclusion within Appendix 4 (External Assurance) of the five key recommendations identified in the Value for Money report
· Resolution of previously missing data identified in the earlier draft
2.6 These changes are reflected in two versions of the document to assist in identifying amendments:
· Appendix A – version showing tracked changes
· Appendix B – clean version with all changes incorporated
3. Options appraisal and proposal
3.1 Option 1 (Preferred option). It is proposed that the Committee give a clear indication of the changes or improvements required to finalise and approve the draft AGS into an acceptable document. This will be in readiness for inclusion within the Statement of Accounts for 2025-26.
3.2 Option 2 (Not recommended). The Audit Committee does not accept the changes that have been made and consider the final draft is not acceptable for approval. This non-compliance would have significant further complications for the Council. Failure to publish an AGS breaches statutory regulations, may result in a negative external audit opinion and will demonstrate lack of transparency and accountability.
4. Risk implications
4.1 Risk 1: Production of a substandard AGS may invite further negative attention from external auditors, oversight bodies including Commissioners.
Mitigation: The draft has undergone rigorous internal review process and input from a wide range of stakeholders including senior management, member of the Audit Committee and Commissioners to ensure that concerns are addressed.
4.2 Risk 2: A poor AGS suggests weak transparency and questionable decision‑making, harming the organisation’s credibility.
Mitigation: The 2025-26 statement has been drafted with the public in mind to ensure that it not only follows CIFPA/SOLACE best practice in terms of content but is written to be accessible to Spelthorne residents.
4.3 Risk 3: The AGS process is treated as a once‑a‑year exercise rather than a continuous learning and improvement activity, which may result in missed insights, repeated issues, and limited organisational learning.
Mitigation: Progress against the actions identified will be monitored on a monthly basis by MAT to keep the effectiveness of controls under review and the Improvement and Recovery Plan includes a key theme aimed at Improving Governance and Assurance to address the weaknesses highlighted.
5. Financial implications
5.1 None arising directly from this report, however, actions for improvement as identified in the AGS will require resource and budgetary allocation. The Annual Governance Statement is a statutory requirement under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2011 and will be incorporated within the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts.
6. Legal comments
6.1 The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) require the Council to undertake an annual review of its governance arrangements and to prepare an annual governance statement in accordance with proper practices. The Regulations also require that the AGS is included in the Council’s Statements of Accounts.
6.2 Consideration of the Council’s Annual Governance Statement falls within the remit of the Audit Committee (part 3(b) of the Constitution).
Corporate implications
7. Commissioners’ comments
7.1 No issues.
8. S151 Officer comments
8.1 The S151 Officer confirm that all financial implications have been taken into account. The S151 recognises the key importance of having a robust AGS which contributes towards a continuous focus on improving governance including financial control and management arrangements.
9. Monitoring Officer comments
9.1 Good governance is critical to the Authority responding to the Secretary of States Best Value Directions and its objectives as set out in the Improvement and Recovery Plan. High profile governance failures in local authorities across the country in recent years have illustrated the need to ensure governance structures, and processes are fit for purpose and kept under constant review.
10. Procurement comments
There are no procurement implications arising from this report, however, actions for improvement as identified in the AGS will require resource and possibly budgetary allocation.
11. Equality and Diversity
11.1 There are no equality or diversity implications arising from this report.
12. Sustainability/Climate Change Implications
12.1 There are no Sustainability or Climate Change implications arising from this report.
13. Other considerations
13.1 As detailed within the draft AGS the following individuals have been consulted during the drafting of this document:
· Group Heads
· Management team
· Members of the Audit Committee
14. Timetable for implementation
14.1
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Date |
Activity |
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Audit Committee on 19 May 2026 |
Consideration of draft AGS |
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Audit Committee on 25 June 2026 |
Consideration of revised draft AGS for approval |
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Before 30 June 2026 |
Submission of AGS within the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts for review by the external auditors as part of their annual review |
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26 November 2026 |
The final version of the AGS will be brought back to the Audit Committee once audited for the Audit Committee to recommend both this and the Statement of Accounts to Council |
15. Contact
15.1 Kirsty Hunt, Governance Support Officer khunt2@spelthorne.gov.uk
15.2 Linda Heron, Monitoring Officer and Head of Governance and Legal Services lheron@spelthorne.gov.uk
Please submit any material questions to the Committee Chair and Officer Contact by two days in advance of the meeting.
Background papers: There are none.
Appendices:
Appendix A – Updated Draft Annual Governance Statement showing tracked changes of all amendments to the version considered at Audit Committee meeting on 19 May 2026.
Appendix B - Updated Draft Annual Governance Statement – Clean version with all changes and formatting incorporated