AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE	7 September 2022
Report of the Director of Governance

Embedding Good Governance:  Assurance Support from the Local Government Association, second update

Summary

During the previous municipal year, 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’s scoping report was approved by the committee on 29^th September 2021 and their second report is now available 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 been undertaken and shared with the Local Government Association as part of their independent work to support the Committee and the Council.  Focus now aimed towards the embedding of good governance to ensure that the lessons learned contribute to a positive governance culture.

This is the second of three reports to be provided by the Local Government Association and the third is currently scheduled for December 2022.

Implications

Financial – 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 the second report prepared by the Local Government Association which appears at Annex One of this report.

Reasons for the Recommendation

The Audit & Governance Committee is required by Full Council to monitor the delivery of the Action Plan prepared in response to the Public Interest Report.

Options

There are no other options for the Committee to consider on this occasion.

Author &  Chief Officer responsible for the report:	Janie Berry, Director of Governance & Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	X	Date	11^th August    2022
Specialist Implications Officer(s):  Debbie Mitchell, Chief Finance Officer and Section 151 Helen Whiting, Head of Human Resources
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 extraordinary meeting of Full Council dated 4^th May 2021

· Agenda, Reports and Minutes of the Audit & Governance Committee including the meeting held on 29^th September 2021 when the LGA’s first report was considered

· Agenda and Reports for Full Council on 24^th March 2022 including the link to the revised constitution

Annexes:

· Annex One: Second Report prepared by the Local Government Association