Decision details

Ian Young, Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services presented an update in relation to the Annual Governance Statement.  The Committee were advised that whilst some of the narrative in the report had been updated since the AGS was approved in June, for example in relation to the Ofsted inspection of Children's Services, the financial position set out in the report had not been updated to reflect the information contained in the most recent update of the Medium Term Financial Strategy reported to Cabinet. This was because the AGS was intended to be published with the Council's Statement of Accounts form 2015/16, therefore the financial information needed to be consistent.

The report provided an update on several areas of activity, reflecting developments since June 2016 including in relation to:

·  Organisational transformation

·  Establishment of Local Pensions Partnership

·  Children's Services – delivering the Improvement Plan

·  Health and Social Care Integration

·  A Combined Authority for Lancashire

·  Implementation of the Council's Property Strategy

The Committee were also advised that a report on the statutory services budget review being undertaken with Price Waterhouse Cooper would be presented to the Executive Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet on the 4 and 6 October 2016 respectively.

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 2015/16 as now presented at Appendix A to the report be approved for inclusion in the County Council's Statement of Accounts for 2015/16.