Issue - meetings

This report introduces the Annual Governance Statement (AGS), which replaces the Statement on Internal Control (SIC), advises the Executive of the changes resulting from this new statutory requirement and seeks approval for a proposed process and timetable for completion of the 2007/08 AGS.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the new statutory requirement for the Council to produce an Annual Governance Statement and to publish this as part of the 2007/08 Statement of Accounts be noted.

                        (ii)        That the proposed process and timetable for completion of the 2007/08 AGS be agreed.

REASON:      To ensure that the Council complies with relevant legislation.

Members considered a report which introduced the Annual Governance Statement (AGS), which would replace the Statement on Internal Control (SIC), advised of the changes resulting from this new statutory requirement and sought approval for a proposed process and timetable for completion of the 2007/08 AGS.  The report had already been presented to the Audit and Governance Committee, who had approved the recommendations.

New guidance published recently by CIPFA/SOLACE, entitled ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework’, set out the six core principles of governance which authorities were required to adopt.  It also introduced a requirement to prepare an AGS instead of an SIC, from 2007/08 onwards.  To enable preparation of the AGS, a number of changes would be needed to the existing SIC processes.  Details of these proposed changes were set out in paragraph 12 of the report.  A proposed timetable for the 2007/08 AGS, culminating in its approval by full Council following completion of final amendments by 13 June 2008, was set out in paragraph 14.

It was noted that Internal Audit was currently undertaking a follow up exercise to identify progress made in addressing the significant control issues identified in the 2006/07 SIC, a copy of which was attached as Annex 1.  Results of this review would be reported to the Audit and Governance Committee in April 2008.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the new statutory requirement for the Council to produce an Annual Governance Statement and to publish this as part of the 2007/08 Statement of Accounts be noted.

                        (ii)        That the proposed process and timetable for completion of the 2007/08 AGS be agreed.¹

REASON:      To ensure that the Council complies with relevant legislation.