Decision details

Ian Young, county secretary and solicitor presented the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2013/14, for inclusion in the County Council's Statement of Accounts for 2013/14, to be considered by the Committee at item 9 of the agenda.

The AGS had been carefully considered by the Management Team, recognising that the chief internal auditor had provided limited assurance overall that there was generally a sound system of internal control.

The committee noted that the council had over the past twelve months, experienced exceptional challenges which had absorbed and diverted a considerable amount of senior leadership time, circumstances which had impacted upon a number of the issues relevant to the adequacy and effectiveness of the council's control environment highlighted by the chief internal auditor's annual report.

It was noted that all outstanding actions would now form part of the chief internal auditor's Audit Plan for 2014/15 with the intention that all areas of high and moderate risk currently assessed as limited or nil assurance would achieve at least a substantial assurance assessment in the chief internal auditor's report for the year ending 31 March 2015.

Discussion was had on the issues that had emerged over recent months resulting in the fundamental re-negotiation of the council's strategic partnership with BT and the consequent return of many key services to the council including procurement.

In response to concerns raised by the Members, officers advised that the AGS for 2014/15 would be presented to the committee in June 2015 in accordance with the advice issued by the external auditor.

It was noted that the Annual Governance Statement was to be signed by the leader and the chief executive for the year in question, and the committee was asked to approve it.

Resolved:  That the Annual Governance Statement for 2013/14 as now presented at Appendix A to the report be approved for inclusion in the County Council's Statement of Accounts for 2013/14.