Issue - meetings

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015* require councils to produce an Annual Governance Statement (AGS) to accompany its Statement of Accounts.

This report seeks approval for the AGS for BCP Council.

The AGS concludes that BCP Council “has effective and fit-for-purpose governance arrangements in place in accordance with the governance framework”.

After considering all the sources of assurance (for governance arrangements), BCP Corporate Management Board identified that the following significant governance issues existed:

·       Governance of Children’s Social Services

·       Governance Arrangements with External Bodies

An action plan to address these significant governance issues has been produced and is being implemented. An update against the action plan will be brought to Audit & Governance Committee in January 2021.

*and as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was informed that the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015* require councils to produce an Annual Governance Statement (AGS) to accompany its Statement of Accounts. This report sought approval for the AGS for BCP Council.  The Head of Audit and Management Assurance reported that the Statement of Accounts would not be approved for some time and therefore the AGS was being approved subject to any issues that may arise and Officers would report back to the Committee if there were any changes.

The AGS concluded that BCP Council “has effective and fit-for-purpose governance arrangements in place in accordance with the governance framework”.

After considering all the sources of assurance (for governance arrangements), BCP Corporate Management Board identified that the following significant governance issues existed:

·       Governance of Children’s Social Services

·       Governance Arrangements with External Bodies

An action plan to address these significant governance issues has been produced and was being implemented. An update against the action plan would be brought to Audit & Governance Committee in January 2022.

*and as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance reported that best practice guidance was issued annually to help Councils with their AGS production and this year the guidance suggested that Councils should specifically comment on how Covid 19 had impacted which was referenced on page 162 of the agenda pack .  In addition, the guidance also asked Councils to include how the Financial Management code was being implemented in 2022 which was included on page164 of the agenda pack.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           the Annual Governance Statement 2020/21 for BCP Council is approved and the Leader and Chief Executive are asked to formally sign it.

(b)           the BCP action plan to address significant governance issues is approved and a progress update will be presented to Audit and Governance Committee in January 2022.

(c)           The Local Code of Governance, which is subject to evolution to reflect governance arrangements, is noted.

Voting: Unanimous