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Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

19 November 2018

 

Annual Governance Statement Update

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit Governance and Standards Committee

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

Mark Green, Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Author

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

This report provides the committee with an update on those matters identified in the Annual Governance Statement as requiring action.

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit Governance and Standards Committee

19 November 2018



Annual Governance Statement Update

 

 

 

1.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1        The Annual Statement of Corporate Governance for 2017-18 was considered and approved by the Committee on 30 July 2018. The statement contained an Action Plan for 2018-19. This report provides an update on the progress made with the Action Plan.

 

1.2        The actions in the plan arose from areas identified in the corporate governance statement as requiring additional action to maintain the council’s governance standards.

 

 

2.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

2.1     The Committee could decide not to consider the action plan. Considering the action plan is however a key part of the Committee’s governance remit.

 

 

 

3.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1   The Committee is asked to consider the updated action plan attached at Appendix A and make recommendations for further action as appropriate.

 

3.2     A number areas were identified for action including:

 

·         Develop a clear and consistent strategic narrative with agreed vision and priorities

·         Audit Reviews with weak assurance

·         Stress Survey

·         Risks

 

3.3        Progress has been made across all areas since July 2018. The Council is in the process of developing a new Strategic Plan with the aim to agree the new vision and priorities at the December Council meeting. Several workshops and meetings have been held with Councillors, Officers, Parishes, business representatives and staff. The next stage in this process following the consultation will be for Policy and Resources Committee to agree a vision and priorities to be submitted to Council.

 

3.4        A number of actions were have been implemented following the stress survey to improve organisational resilience including training for managers on managing resilience in teams and mental health first aider training has been taking place with 32 officers nominated to attend the training.

 

3.5        An update on the corporate risks was recently reported to the Council’s corporate leadership team and the Policy and Resources Committee. Action has been taken across all areas.

 

4         RISK

4.1   This report is presented for information only. Key corporate risks have been identified in the Annual Governance Statement action plan and their status included in the update to the Committee.



 

 

5         CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1   The Committee is invited to provide feedback on the progress with the action plan.

 

 

6         NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     This report has been provided to update the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee and will be publicly available via the committee papers on the council’s website. Any recommendations for further action by the Committee in regard to the action plan will be carried forward.

 

 

 

7         CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

Effective corporate

governance arrangements

ensure the council’s priorities

are understood and delivered.

Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Risk Management

The AGS considers and gives

assurance on the Council’s

approach to risk management

Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Financial

This report has no direct financial implications. Carrying out the actions identified in the AGS helps to ensure that the Council maintains high governance standards.

Section 151 Officer & Finance Team

Staffing

There are implications for staff in terms of the stress survey action plan and actions still to be undertaken for Data Protection

Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Legal

There are no legal implications

 

Privacy and Data Protection

 

The report details data protection as an area where action is being undertaken a full report is provided on this elsewhere on this agenda.

 

Equalities

Good governance ensures

the Council is adhering to the

public sector equality duty.

Policy & Information Manager

Crime and Disorder

There are no implications

Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Procurement

There are no implications

Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

 

8         REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix A: AGS Action Plan Update

 

9         BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Annual Governance Statement 2017-18