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Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

14 September 2020

 

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Annual Report 2019/20

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

Lead Head of Service

Rich Clarke – Head of Audit Partnership

Lead Officer and Report Author

Russell Heppleston – Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Classification

Public

Wards affected

N/A

 

Executive Summary

 

Based on the activity during the year, the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee can demonstrate it has appropriately and effectively fulfilled its duties during 2019/20. The report details how the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee has effectively discharged those duties and set out the achievements of the Committee during the year.

 

Purpose of Report

 

The purpose of this report is to outline where the Committee has gained assurance during the year, particularly over areas of governance, risk management, Standards, and internal control. The production and presentation of an annual report is required by the Committee’s Terms of Reference.  

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

 

1.   That the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Annual Report for 2019/20 (Appendix A) is agreed.

 

2.   That the report is taken to a meeting of the Full Council to demonstrate how the Committee has discharged its duties.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

14 September 2020



Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Annual Report 2019/20

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

The Audit, Governance & Standards Committee must obtain assurance on the control environment of the Council. The internal control environment comprises the whole network of systems and controls established to manage the Council and meet its objectives.  It includes financial and other controls, and arrangements for ensuring the Council achieves value for money from its activities.

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities & cross-cutting objectives

The report supports the good governance, internal control and risk management of Maidstone Borough Council and so contributes broadly to achievement of its corporate priorities.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Risk Management

The report introduces no risks that require separate description in the Council’s risk registers, nor materially impacts any currently described.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Financial

There are no additional costs or savings associated with this proposal.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Staffing

There are no staffing implications associated with this proposal.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Legal

There are no legal implications identified in the report. The report demonstrates that measures are in place to ensure good governance arrangements which enable the Council to meet statutory requirements.

Team Leader, (Corporate Governance), MKLS

Privacy and Data Protection

There are no direct privacy or data protection implications associated with this report.

Team Leader, (Corporate Governance), MKLS

Equalities

There are no direct equalities implications associated with the decision.

Equalities and Corporate Policy Officer

Public Health

There are no direct public health implications associated with the decision.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Crime and Disorder

There are no direct crime and disorder implications associated with the decision.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

Procurement

There are no direct procurement implications associated with the decision.

Deputy Head of Audit Partnership

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1    The Audit, Governance & Standards Committee is required to monitor audit activity (internal and external), review and comment on the effectiveness of the Council’s regulatory framework and review and approve the Council’s annual statements of accounts and scrutinise associated strategy and policy. This report sets out how this has been achieved during 2019/20.

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1   The production and presentation of an annual report is required by the Committee’s terms of reference. Therefore, no other alternative options can be recommended.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1   This report provides the Council with assurance that important governance, risk and standards issues are monitored and addressed.

 

4.2   Our recommendation is for the Committee to agree the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Annual Report (Appendix A), subject to any comments and amendments. In accordance with the Terms of Reference, that the Chairman of the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee then provides the report to a meeting of full Council setting out how the committee has discharged its duties.

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1    The risks associated with this decision, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework.  We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1   This report was compiled through consultation between Officers and the Chairman of the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee.

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1    The report will be presented to Full Council in accordance with this Committee’s Terms of Reference.

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following document is published with this report and forms part of the report:

·         Appendix A: Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Annual Report 2019/20

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None