AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE	29 September 2021
Report of the Director of Governance

Report in the Public Interest: Assurance Support from the Local Government Association

Summary

At one of its earlier meetings, the Audit & Governance Committee requested the assistance of the Local Government Association to offer external support in assurance monitoring against the delivery of the Action Plan.  The Local Government Association has agreed to assist and their scoping document is now provided for consideration.

Background

The Council is required to address the recommendations set out in the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021 and accepted by Full Council on 4^th May 2021. An Action Plan was also approved by Full Council and Audit & Governance Committee has been asked to oversee the delivery of the Action Plan.

Work to address the various aspects of the Action Plan has already commenced, and the Local Government Association (LGA) has accepted the Committee’s invitation to support the Council and their scoping document as to how this will be undertaken is attached at Annex 1 of this report.

Implications

Financial – None directly arising from this report.  The Council is a member of the LGA and therefore the support from the LGA is at nil cost.

Human Resources (HR) – none directly arising from this report

Equalities – none directly arising from this report                                 

Legal – As detailed within this report, the Council has received and accepted the Report in the Public Interest dated 19^th April 2021, and therefore is required to undertake necessary steps to address the highlighted recommendations.  The various individual steps required in addressing these recommendations may in themselves require legal advice.   

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property - none directly arising from this report

Recommendations

The Audit & Governance Committee is invited to consider and accept the scoping proposal prepared by the Local Government Association as detailed at Annex 1 of this report.

Reasons for the Recommendation

To add external assurance to the Council to ensure appropriate compliance with the agreed Action Plan.

Options

The Committee can chose to reject the scoping document and support from the Local Government Association.

Author &  Chief Officer responsible for the report:	Janie Berry, Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	X	Date	16/09/2021
Specialist Implications Officer(s):  Debbie Mitchell, Chief Finance Officer and Section 151 Trudy Forster, Head of HR
Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all					All	X
For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

Agenda, Reports and Minutes of the meeting of Full Council dated 4^th May 2021

Agenda, Reports and Minutes of the Audit & Governance Committee

Annex 1 – LGA Assurance Exercise on Actions Resulting from the 19 April 2021 Public Interest Report City of York Council