Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy and Communications updating progress against the Annual Governance Statement 2015/16 Action Plan.  It was noted that:

·  Progress against the Action Plan was being monitored by the Corporate Governance Working Group.

·  Since the Annual Governance Statement was approved in July 2015 to accompany the Statement of Accounts, action had been taken in all areas highlighted for further development.  For example, teams across the Council had been involved in developing the corporate risk register.  Common themes had been identified across services relating to financial and staffing pressures, and there would be a workshop for Members and senior Officers on 14 December 2015.  Agreement had been given to the disaggregation of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council from the Mid-Kent Planning Support Shared Service, and arrangements were now in place to manage this process.  A formal review of the effectiveness of the new Committee system of governance would be carried out by the Democracy Committee in the New Year.  The Democracy Committee was also reviewing the process for appointing the Mayor, and would be making recommendations to the Council.  The residents’ survey was underway, and the results would be shared with Members and used to inform the refresh of the Strategic Plan and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

·  Audit work had identified that emergency planning had weak controls in place to mitigate its risks and achieve its objectives and that there were weak controls in place for achieving compliance with Data Protection requirements.  Action plans and implementation dates had been agreed and put in place, and sufficient progress had been made to enable the rating to be reassessed as sound in both cases.

Whilst noting that it was considered that there were no community safety implications associated with this report, a Member reiterated the need for vigilance generally in the light of recent events.

RESOLVED:  That the update on progress against the Annual Governance Statement 2015/16 Action Plan be noted.