Issue - meetings

To seek approval of the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 (report of the Assistant Director – Governance enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance which sought approval of the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25.

The Assistant Director – Governance introduced the report and highlighted the following main points:

• The Annual Governance Statement 2024/25, at Appendix 1, was a statutory report required to be approved by the Governance and Audit Committee prior to the Statement of Accounts and which included the following areas;
  • Point 1 and Point 2 outlined the Scope of Responsibility and Purpose of the Governance Framework respectively;
  • Point 3 detailed the Council’s review of the effectiveness of its governance arrangements against the key elements identified in the CIPFA SOLACE model: Delivering Good Governance in Local Government: Framework;
  • Point 4 presented the Council’s review of the effectiveness of its Governance framework and system of internal control;
  • Point 5 outlined the actions taken in respect of significant Governance issues identified in 2024/25; 
  • Point 6 commented on the Council’s Combined Assurance Report 2024/25; and
  • Point 7 summary and approach for 2025/26.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members requested that access to quarterly financial data be communicated to Governance and Audit Committee members.
  • The Interim Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) responded that:
    • Whilst the seeking of assurance around control systems and governance fell within the remit of the Governance and Audit remit, the financial monitoring element was a Cabinet function and, in this respect, the financial information was freely available to view within public agenda report packs;
    • Scrutiny of financial information could be undertaken by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee;
    • As part of the Internal Audit process, a consultancy audit review had taken place for the financial year 2024/25 which had provided the Committee with assurance in respect of the budget monitoring systems and processes in place; and
    • At the request of members, the link to the live budget information would be circulated to members.

AGREED:

That the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 be approved.