Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services as contained on pages 319 to 336 of the Book of Reports. The purpose of which was to consider the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2020/21.

The Corporate Compliance & Governance Manager outlined details of the report.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Annual Governance Statement 2020/21, set out in Appendix 1, be approved, and commended to the Leader and Chief Operating Officer for signature subject to the following amendments:

1.    That the review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance will be undertaken annually and presented to Audit and Governance Committee for approval by 31 January 2023.

2.    That Page 11 of Appendix (page 334 of the Book of Reports) be amended to remove the wording  in the significant governance issue section: 'issues out of the Council's control' to read "There has been a delay in the completion of the external audit of the Council's Financial Statements for 2020/21.  This was due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, staffing resources and the need to meet new requirements such as the completion and incorporation of Group Accounts in the Financial Statements".