The Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance introduced the report and stated that the Appendices contained listed areas identified for action from last year and progress made, including training to prepare for all-out elections and review of the constitution. They also set out actions for next year including responding to the recent staff survey, preparing for the new complaint handling code and monitoring the implementation of recommendations from those Audit reports with a weak rating.

During the discussion, the Parish representatives raised concerns around the Code of Conduct as it applied to Parish Council use. They advised that guidance would be produced through the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) to be agreed by the Monitoring Officer and to help Parish Councillors in this regard.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Governance Statement at Appendix 1 to the report be approved and submitted to the Leader and Chief Executive for signature.