Decision details

The Council's Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 & Code of Corporate Governance

Decision Maker: Audit, Risk and Governance Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Purpose:

The County Council is required to produce and approve an Annual Governance Statement (AGS) which will be included in its Annual Statement of Accounts for 2019/20.

A draft AGS will be presented for the Committee's consideration.

In addition, Full Council in July 2016 approved a new Code of Corporate Governance for the County Council that reflected new CIPFA/Solace guidance. Full Council also agreed that the Code would be reviewed on an annual basis.

Therefore, the Committee will be asked to consider the updated Code of Corporate Governance and whether it wishes to make any changes to recommend to Full Council.

Decisions:

Paul Bond, Head of Legal and Democratic Services presented the Annual Governance Statement, to be included in the Annual Statement of Accounts for 2019/20, and the Code of Corporate Governance. 

 

It was noted the statement included an extra section which set out the council's response to the pandemic and a separate conclusion regarding the position as of mid-June.

 

With regard to the Code of Corporate Governance, the evidence section had been updated to include new sources from the Property Asset Management Strategy and Digital First Strategy.

 

Resolved: That:

 

(i)  The draft Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20, for inclusion in the Statement of Accounts, as presented, be approved by the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee.

 

(ii)  The Annual Governance Statement was to be signed by the Chief Executive and Director of Resources (the section 151 officer) and Leader of the council and published on the council’s website.

 

(iii)  The committee considered the updated Code of Corporate Governance and no amendments were proposed for recommendation to Full Council.

 

Divisions Affected: (All Divisions);

Contact: Paul Bond Email: paul.bond@lancashire.gov.uk Tel: 01772 534676.

Report author: Paul Bond

Date of decision: 27/07/2020

Decided at meeting: 27/07/2020 - Audit, Risk and Governance Committee

Accompanying Documents: