Issue - meetings

To receive the Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25.

The Director: Policy & Governance and the Audit, Governance & Procurement Lead Manager presented the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 (“AGS”) which would accompany the annual accounts and the Local Code of Good Governance. 

To complete the AGS, Internal Audit had undertaken a review of the Council’s adherence to the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework – Delivering Good Governance in Local Government. To check compliance with this they had issued assurance certificates containing governance-related questions to all Service Delivery Managers, with sign off from Directors and Executive Directors.  Sample testing was undertaken for accuracy.

The Annual Governance Statement and Local Code of Good Governance outlined that the Council had a robust governance framework in place and demonstrated the continual review of procedures in order to maintain good governance.  Where any development was required, an action plan would be devised and monitored throughout the year which would be reported to the Committee in January 2026.

Based on the outcome of the AGS, the work of Internal Audit and other external assessments, the Chief Internal Auditor gave a reasonable level of assurance on the Council’s governance arrangements, reflecting a robust framework despite the challenging economic climate. This was a testament to the hard work of the team and the wider organisation.

Members welcomed the report and thanked the teams for their hard work which had not gone unnoticed. 

Upon being put to the vote it was, unanimously:

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the report be noted;

b)    the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 be approved; and

c)    the Local Code of Good Governance be approved.