Issue - meetings

That the Annual Governance Statement attached to the Statement of Accounts be recommended to Council.

The Internal Audit Manager introduced a report to consider and approve the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2015/16 as included in the draft Statement of Accounts.  The Corporate Governance Working Group, of which he was Chair, had co-ordinated preparation of the AGS with involvement from Chief Officers, Statutory Officers and Overview & Scrutiny Chairs.  Comments put forward by Council Members had also been incorporated in the document.

Mr. Paul Williams questioned the availability of a new ‘light touch’ appraisal in view of previous concerns expressed on the completion of appraisals.  The Chief Executive summarised the findings of a progress report on appraisals due to be considered by the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  He explained that ‘light touch’ appraisals applied only to certain larger workgroups of employees with similar, defined roles, where general updates could be shared.  Whilst individual appraisals would be disproportionate to these workgroups, those employees could opt for a separate discussion if they wished.  This approach had been supported by Trade Union representatives.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Governance Statement attached to the Statement of Accounts be recommended to Council.