Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillor E Williamson declared a pecuniary interest in item 5 as her husband’s business had received COVID business grants. Minute number 4 refers.

To inform the Committee of the recent work completed by Internal Audit.

Under the Council’s Constitution and as part of the overall corporate governance arrangements the Committee noted a report informing of the work of Internal Audit for 2020/21.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2021 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To provide the Committee with a governance report relating to the framework of safeguards, key controls and fraud checks relating to business support grants.

The Committee noted a report which displayed the audit trail for the payment of COVID-19 business support grants and which ensured that all the relevant safeguards, key controls and fraud checks were in place.

To inform the Committee of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and to seek approval of the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts for 2020/21.

Members noted a report which informed of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require Authorities to conduct a review, at least once in each financial year, of the effectiveness of its system of internal control and to include an Annual Governance Statement report on the review with its Statement of Accounts for 2020/21.

RESOLVED that:

1.            The draft Annual Governance Statement as shown in appendix 3 be approved in principle for inclusion in the Council’s Statement of Accounts be approved.

2.            Responsibility be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Committee to make any further amendments deemed necessary.

To ask the Governance, Audit and Standards Committee to approve the proposals to be put forward for consultation as part of the Community Governance Review beginning in June 2021.

Members considered the proposals to be put forward for consultation as part of the Community Governance Review that would be starting June 2021.

The recommendations from a Corporate Governance Review would help to deliver improved community engagement, more cohesive communities, better local democracy and more efficient delivery of local services.

Discussions ensued around the proposed boundaries and how members of the public would be consulted. Suggestions included setting up a task and finish group, holding both face to face and virtual roadshows to engage with the public and ensure Parish/Town Councils were aware of the Council’s proposals affecting their particular parish.

RESOLVED that:

1.            The Terms of Reference for the Review as attached in the report at appendix 1 be approved.

2.            The proposed consultation programme as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

3.            The Consultation proposals as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

4.            A task and finish group be formed to assist with proposals.

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the Work Programme.

RESOLVED that the work programme be approved.