Issue - meetings

To consider and approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2018/19.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2018/19.  The purpose of the Annual Governance Statement (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 lists the key areas where improvement is needed and progress on these is monitored during the following year.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Chief Finance Officer advised that the Council were in the process of procuring external auditors to audit the Knowle Green Estate accounts.  He also provided examples of services that had been protected from the Surrey County Council budget cuts. 

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

Members of the Committee that did not agree with the resolution were asked to express their concerns in writing.