Contact: Jeff Pattison ext 7321 and Ejner Knudsen ext 7403

1 SUMMARY

1.1 This report outlines the future work programme of the Governance Committee following the adoption by the County Council of a Corporate Governance framework. This follows guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. The County Councils Corporate Governance arrangements are an integral factor in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment review.

1.2 This report therefore, briefly, sets out the work and decisions that this Committee will need to undertake, together with the likely timescale for them to be taken.

1.3 The outcome of this report will support Corporate Strategy aims 5 and 6 by ensuring that the County Council has in place effective mechanisms to ensure effective governance arrangements are in place.

2 THE WORK PROGRAMME

2.1 The detailed role and responsibilities of the Committee are set out in the Constitution at Part 1 Chapter 10.

2.2 A number of these roles can arise ad hoc throughout the year as the need or circumstances arise. This could relate, for example, to any review of the provisions relating to urgency or call-in or indeed any changes that might be necessary to the Council's standing orders relating to contracts, financial regulations or the conduct of the Council's business.

2.3 There are however, a range of responsibilities which will be undertaken at a similar time during every annual cycle of committees. It is these functions which determine when the Committee needs to meet and how often during the annual cycle.

2.4 Taking these factors into account, it is suggested that the Committee should meet three times per year in March, July and November to consider the following core business.

March - The internal audit strategy giving an outline of the work programme for the following financial year.

- Report from Monitoring Officer and Chief Internal Auditor on work to be undertaken for Corporate Governance.

- Audit Commission; Audit and Inspection Plan.

- Review of any CPA improvement plan actions affecting Corporate Governance.

July - The annual internal audit report (including previous years delivery of plan, main findings, assurance statement).

- Report from Monitoring Officer and Chief Internal Auditor giving opinion on system of internal control and including statement to be signed by the Leader and Chief Executive.

November - Report from Monitoring Officer and Chief Internal Auditor

i) Progress with Annual Plan

ii) Initial findings of review of Corporate Governance arrangements, together with draft action plan.

Audit Commission - Annual Audit Letter

- SAS 610 report

N.B. The Statement of Auditing Standards (SAS) 610 is a statutory requirement of the external auditor to report to those charged with governance (as distinct from management) matters relating to the audit of the Council's financial statements and internal control. For the past two financial years this has been combined with notification of the Auditor Scored Judgements element of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) process which helps to place any comments made into context.

3 RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Governance Committee notes the outline work programme for the Committee and agrees that the annual cycle of meetings will take place in March, July and November.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published Works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None.