Issue - meetings

To consider the Annual Governance Statement 2017/18.

Members received the Annual Governance Statement 2017-18.

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·         The Annual Governance Statement had been produced by the Corporate Leadership Team following consideration of a number of Management Assurance Statements produced by the Directors and some Assistant Directors.  These had been signed by the relevant Director and Executive Lead Member to provide accountability and assurance to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council.

·         It had been concluded that the Council’s governance arrangements were fit for purpose.

·         A number of exceptions had been identified.  An action plan around these exceptions had been produced.  Members requested an update report on the exceptions identified, in six months’ time.

·         Councillor Whittle commented that reference should be made to the impact on budget and resources that increasing demand in adult and children’s services would have.  The Assistant Director Governance commented that the Annual Governance Statement had been produced at a certain point in time.  He agreed to feed the Committee’s proposal back to the Corporate Leadership Team.

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Governance Statement be approved prior to its inclusion in the final Statement of Accounts subject to reference being made to increasing costs in People Services as a result of increasing service demand.