Issue - meetings

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

The AGS concludes that BCP Council “has effective and fit-for-purpose governance arrangements in place in accordance with the governance framework”. This reflects the significant steps taken to improve governance following the council being issued with a best value notice.

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

·        Best Value Notice

·        Dedicated School Grant and Department for Education Statutory Direction for special educational needs and disability (SEND) services

·        Delay in the completion of previous years’ External Audit

·        Mandatory Training

An action plan to address the significant governance issues has been produced and is being implemented. An update against the action plan will be brought to Audit and Governance Committee in January 2025.

*and as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Only minor amendments to the Local Code of Governance have been necessary to keep pace with the Council’s changing governance arrangements.

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 'I' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

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

The AGS concluded that BCP Council “had effective and fit-for-purpose governance arrangements in place in accordance with the governance framework”. This reflected the significant steps taken to improve governance following the council being issued with a best value notice.

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

·       Best Value Notice

·       Dedicated School Grant and Department for Education Statutory Direction for special educational needs and disability (SEND) services

·       Delay in the completion of previous years’ External Audit

·       Mandatory Training

An action plan to address the significant governance issues has been produced and was being implemented. An update against the action plan would be brought to Audit and Governance Committee in January 2025.

Only minor amendments to the Local Code of Governance had been necessary to keep pace with the Council’s changing governance arrangements.

The Monitoring Officer provided the following information in response to questions from the Committee:

·       Legal services had been working with officers across the council reviewing arms length companies the council had and ensuring good governance arrangements were in place.

RESOLVED that:

a.  The ‘pre-audited’ Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 is approved

b. The annual update of Local Code of Governance is approved.

Voting: Unanimous

*and as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2024