Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Audit & Risk Manager.

The Audit & Risk Manager presented Members with the Draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2020/21 (attached at Appendix A).

The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  She confirmed that the AGS had been collated following an evidence gathering exercise which called upon a number of sources including Internal and External Regulatory Reports; Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Manager; and an Evidence Framework illustrating how the Authority complied with the core principles of the Code of Governance.

As a consequence of Covid, some of the ways the Council operated changed during 2020/21, e.g moving to agile working, however, these changes have not weakened the governance framework.  The AGS has been produced to reflect these changes, with notable updates being to the engagement activities conducted for the period under Core Principle B, development of wellbeing objectives under Core Principle B, expansion of self-assessment requirements under Core Principle D and changes to the Governance and Audit Committee under Core Principle G.

A Member referred to engagement activities and expressed concern regarding complaints received from members of the public regarding the time taken to contact the Council.  Members had also experienced difficulties in contacting Officers.

In response the Officer explained that the engagement activities outlined in the AGS was the broader engagement undertaken by the Council.  The complaints referred to was an operational issue and the Officer undertook to refer this matter to the relevant Officer.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Committee approve and adopt the Draft AGS having considered and

challenged the content, ensuring it is consistent with their knowledge and understanding of the wider issues affecting the Council.