Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Audit and Risk Management to:

a)     Inform the Audit Committee of the requirements of the statutory Annual Governance Statement (AGS) and provide a draft statement relating to 2007/08 for review and approval;

b)     Inform the Audit Committee of the supporting information used to produce the draft AGS and provide a copy of the revised management assurance and self-assessment statement, which will be completed and submitted by Directors and ACEs, for information.

The Head of Audit and Risk Management, Anne Woods, reported that the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) had become the new statutory reporting document from 2007/08, replacing the Statement of Internal Control. The process for signing off the AGS was similar to that for the previous Statement of Internal Control, and the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council would require sufficient assurances that responsibilities have been adopted at a corporate level and adequate processes exist and are effective before they sign the AGS. The draft AGS, matrix of supporting assurance and evidence and a proforma for the Management Assurance Statement and self assessment checklist were appended to the report.

Following consideration by the Audit Committee, the draft AGS would go to General Purposes Committee in June for approval. The draft AGS had already been presented to CEMB for review and CAB for information. The Chief Financial Officer confirmed that that the revised Management Assurance Statement had been compiled truthfully and in accordance with CIPFA guidelines.

Cllr Wilson suggested that the AGS should include the role of Councillors in governance arrangements, such as Members’ enquiries. Ms Woods reported that the draft text would be refined to include the roles of Members and the specific role of the Opposition.

There being no further comments, it was:

RESOLVED

i.                    That, having reviewed the supporting information, the draft AGS be approved, subject to the comments of the Committee made during discussion of the report.

ii.                  That the approved timescale and process for the draft AGS be noted.