AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE	18 January 2023
Report of the Director of Governance

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Summary

To update the committee on any significant issues considered by the Monitoring Officer.

Background

Members may recall that, at the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee on 30 November, the Committee requested an update on the Induction Programme which is being developed for Members, for implementation following the elections in May 2023.  Members will therefore find a report on the agenda for this meeting from the Assistant Director Policy and Strategy, detailing preparations to date.

That report sets out information on the programme, which will be delivered in the period immediately after the elections, and will in no small part be facilitated by the provision to all members of up-to-date IT equipment for their use over the forthcoming municipal term, and approach which the Committee endorsed at the 30 November meeting.

In addition to the above, the Monitoring Officer has commenced a ‘light-touch’ review of the Constitution, approximately six months after its adoption, with a view to amend some of the typographical errors and organisational changes which have become required over the past six months.  The majority of these changes will be made under delegated authority, and once concluded a report will be provided to the Committee and to Council, for information.  Any proposed amendments which fall outside delegated powers will be brought to Committee for consideration before being taken to Council for agreement.

This ‘light touch’ review will be followed by a more comprehensive review of the Constitution in May and June, for consideration by the Committee and Council in due course.  In order to support any proposed changes, appropriate advice will be provided to the Committee and to Council.

Finally, the Monitoring Officer is pleased to report that no significant governance issues have arisen since the previous meeting of the Committee.  The Monitoring Officer continues to deal with any issues referred to them in accordance with their delegated powers.

Implications

Financial – None directly arising from this report.

Human Resources (HR) – None directly arising from this report.

Equalities – None directly arising from this report.

Legal – None directly arising from this report.

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property – None directly arising from this report, although Members will note that the approach to providing common IT equipment to all Members following the elections, previously endorsed by Committee, will have resource implications which have been factored into the delivery programme.

Recommendations

It is recommended that Members note the contents of the report.

Reasons for the Recommendation

The contents of the report are provided for information only.

Options

Members may choose to note or not note the contents of the report.

Author and Chief Officer responsible for the report:	Bryn Roberts, Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer
	Report Approved	X	Date	6 January 2023
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:

· None

Annexes:

· None