Issue - items at meetings - Annual Governance Statement

(a)       Extract from the proceedings of the Audit Committee held on 30 June 2009 (copy attached).

(b)       Report of the Interim Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached).

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the Committee notes the draft extract from the proceedings of the Audit Committee.

(2)               That the Committee endorses the Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 as approved by the Audit Committee.

(3)               That a report on whistle blowing be brought back to the Governance Committee.

31.1         The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Finance and Resources presenting the Council’s Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 for consideration and approval (for copy see minute book).

31.2         In response to concerns raised by Councillor Mitchell the following comments were made:

§         The Acting Director of Strategy & Governance explained that Members had been interviewed as part of the Good Governance Review under the Audit Commission’s Advice & Assistance Programme and that this was not part of the annual review. The draft report produced had been of an unsatisfactory standard and the Council had responded with comments to which a response was being awaited; it was expected that the report would be considered by the Audit Committee in December.

§         Proposals for an independent whistle-blowing function could be taken forward by the Committee and a report would be required.

31.3         In response to a request from Councillor Elgood the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance stated that it was not the Council’s usual practice to make evolving drafts of reports available to all Members while officer concerns around credibility remained outstanding; he agreed to ask the Acting Chief Executive to provide written confirmation of this.

31.4         Councillors Mears stated that the highest priority for any whistle-blowing process was to ensure complete confidentiality, so that whistle-blowers could come forward with confidence.

31.5         Councillors Mitchell and Randall echoed the comments made about confidentiality and both felt confident that it could be achieved through an independent process.

31.6         The Acting Director of Strategy & Governance explained that a number of independent routes were already available, such as the Local Government Ombudsman, and that all the issues would be covered in the report.

31.7         RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Committee notes the draft extract from the proceedings of the Audit Committee.

(2)         That the Committee endorses the Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 as approved by the Audit Committee.

(3)         That a report on whistle blowing be brought back to the Governance Committee.

Report from the Director of Finance & Resources (to follow).

RESOLVED – That the Audit Committee approves the Annual Governance Statement and that:

1.                  The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive are recommended to

sign the approved Annual Governance Statement; and

2.                  The actions arising from the review are noted.

14.1    The Committee considered a report from the Interim Director of Finance & Resources regarding the Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 (for copy see minute book).

14.2    The Head of Audit & Business Risk began by stating that this was the second year that the Annual Governance Statement was presented in its current format, and that this was standard for this type of Statement. It followed a review of governance arrangements and he noted that although there were no significant issues arising, there are a number of actions for improvement. An updated action plan would be submitted to the Committee at a future point. The Annual Governance Statement would be signed by the Leader and the Chief Executive once adopted.

14.3    The Head of Audit & Business Risk  referred to an Annual Report from the Audit Committee to Full Council. This is seen as good practice and carried out by a large number of Councils.

14.4    The Head of Audit and Business Risk stated that a self assessment toolkit to evaluate the effectiveness of the Audit Committee is available from CIPFA and it would be beneficial to use this for a review especially as the Audit Committee has been operating now for over a year.

14.5    RESOLVED – That the Audit Committee approves the Annual Governance Statement and that:

1.      The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive are recommended to sign the approved Annual Governance Statement; and

2.      The actions arising from the review are noted.