Issue - meetings

That the Committee recommends to the Council the Annual Governance Statement 2016/17 to be attached to the Statement of Accounts.

The Chief Executive introduced the draft Annual Government Statement (AGS) for 2016/17 for consideration and recommendation to County Council to accompany the Statement of Accounts.  He gave a reminder of the annual requirement to produce the AGS following a thorough review and corporate governance self-assessment where rigorous challenge had been applied.  Whilst setting out the approach to preparing the AGS, attention was drawn to the actions taken on governance and service specific strategic issues from 2015/16.

In response to comments from Sally Ellis on weaknesses mentioned in other reports, the Chief Executive explained that the strategic issues related to Improvement Plan areas.  Whilst issues such as Section 106 Agreements were important as an ongoing risk, the Interim Internal Audit Manager advised that these were not at a significant level for inclusion in the AGS and would be addressed through action tracking.

Matthew Edwards of Wales Audit Office (WAO) gave a reminder that consideration of the content and format of the AGS would form part of WAO work on the audit of financial statements and would be prioritised.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee recommends to the Council the Annual Governance Statement 2016/17 to be attached to the Statement of Accounts.