Issue - meetings

To seek approval for the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services presented, for approval, the Annual Governance Statement (“AGS”) for the year 2025/26, in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

Councillor Hannington said that the AGS for 2025-26, formed part of the Council’s statutory responsibilities and accompanied the Statement of Accounts.

This AGS provided an assurance that the Council continued to operate with strong, transparent and accountable governance arrangements and it drew on a wide range of evidence, which included internal audit, external audit, risk management, service assurance statements, complaints and standards activity and the Council’s financial and performance monitoring.

The Council’s vision was clear to protect, care and invest to create a better borough where people could grow up, work, prosper and grow older with confidence and opportunity.  The Council Plan set out how it delivered this, guided by five priorities and the Council’s longer-term Vision 2030, which described the ambition it shared with partners for the future of the borough.  To achieve this vision, the Council recognised the need for strong governance and sound financial management.

Despite continued financial pressures in 2025-26, the AGS gave an assurance that the Council had responded responsibly, had put in place robust savings and management plans that protected frontline services, where possible.

No significant governance failures had been identified this year. Instead, the AGS had highlighted consistently strong governance, which had been delivered despite the national pressures facing local government. This strength was driven first and foremost by the efforts of the Council’s staff, whose hard work, resilience and commitment ensured that the Council continued to operate to a high standard, and their contribution was evident throughout this statement.

These were hallmarks of a Council that took its responsibilities seriously and delivered them well.  The past 12 months had also brought some exceptional successes for the Council and its community. The Council continued to be a high performing authority that put residents at the heart of everything it did.  A highlight included being awarded Council of the year in 2025 by the Local Government Chronicle - national recognition of the strength, ambition, and impact of the Council’s work.

The Council’s staff and its dedication and professionalism were the reason the Council continued to deliver such strong governance.  Despite national pressures, they consistently went above and beyond for the borough’s residents, and the strength of this statement was a direct reflection of their hard work and commitment.

The Council continued to maintain robust financial management, strong oversight of major programmes and clear, well-documented decision-making processes.  Its scrutiny arrangements remained effective, constructive and transparent, and the Council’s commitment to openness was demonstrated through its public reporting and the continued expansion of digital access to meetings.

The AGS also identified the areas where the Council would continue to strengthen its governance in the years ahead.  These included financial resilience, particularly in light of ongoing pressures being experienced nationally within the local government environment.

Workforce capacity, especially in specialist areas where national recruitment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65