Issue - meetings

This report presents the Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2020 for Members’ endorsement.  The Annual Governance Statement is signed by both the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive and accompanies the Statement of Accounts 2019/20.

The report of the Management Team presented the Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2020 which was required to be certified by both the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to accompany the Council’s Statement of Accounts 2019/20.

The Annual Governance Statement had been prepared by way of a self-assessment questionnaire and supporting evidence and was intended to demonstrate that there was a sound system of corporate governance in place throughout the organisation.

Members were pleased to note that no significant governance issues had been identified and there were no other areas identified for improvement.  However, it was reported that the recent introduction of Emergency Provisions for Decision Taking (as set out in Part 7 of the Constitution)  to address any governance issues arising from a no-deal Brexit had proved beneficial during the current coronavirus pandemic.   In addition, the introduction of ‘virtual meetings’ had meant some changes to protocols and procedures, as set out in the ‘Protocol for Use of Videoconferencing Facilities’ published as a supplement to the Constitution in May 2020. 

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2020, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed.