Issue - meetings

To consider and approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2019-20.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2019-20.  The purpose of the AGS is to provide assurance regarding the Council’s governance arrangements.

The format and wording of the AGS are based upon official guidance. The statement lists the key elements of the Council’s governance framework; those systems and processes which must be effective if there is to be a high standard of governance across the Council.  It identifies any areas of significant weakness in internal controls, areas for improvement, and the actions taken to remedy those.  The impact of Covid-19 was considered the biggest risk facing the Council at present and was included together with other issues such as the sustainability of local government, investment assets, a review of the constitution and Knowle Green Estates.

The Head of Corporate Governance advised that the annual letter from the Local Government Ombudsman had been received since the draft AGS was written and would update it with that information.  It was agreed that the paragraph on sustainability should be amended to accurately reflect the Local Plan. 

It was agreed that a number of detailed points would be sent by the Chairman to the Head of Corporate Governance for consideration.  The Annual Governance Statement would be recirculated once the proposals had been considered and amendments made.

It was resolved that the draft Annual Governance Statement be approved in principle and the improvement actions identified in the Statement endorsed subject to the above.