Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item

Governance Committee

15/03/200519 September 2008

Error! Bookmark not defined.Amended Annual Governance Statement

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: David Howells - Director of Corporate Services Tel: 02380 626833

1

Introduction Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.1

The Committee approved the Annual Governance Statement for 2007/08 at its last meeting on 26 June 2008. Our external auditors have subsequently and helpfully alerted us to the fact that, in order to demonstrate our full compliance with the disclosure requirements, it should ideally include three particular statements:

· a reference within the introduction to the statement that sets out the purpose of the governance framework

· a specific reference to the period covered by the statement and how the framework has been in place for the year

· a statement (just above the Chairman and Chief Officer signatures) that confirms actions will be taken to improve.

1.2

The Chairman and Chief Officer have therefore signed an amended Annual Governance Statement (attached as Appendix 1) that now includes the following additional wording in the appropriate places:

· "The governance framework comprises the systems and processes, and culture and values, by which the Authority is directed and controlled and its activities through which it accounts to, engages with and leads the community. It enables the Authority to monitor the achievement of its strategic objectives and to consider whether those objectives have led to the delivery of appropriate, cost-effective services.

The system of internal control is a significant part of that framework and is designed to manage risk to a reasonable level. It cannot eliminate all risk of failure to achieve policies, aims and objectives and can therefore only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance of effectiveness. The system of internal control is based on an on-going process designed to identify and prioritise the risks to the achievement of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority's policies, aims and objectives, to evaluate the likelihood of those risks being realised and the impact should they be realised, and to manage them efficiently, effectively and economically."

· "The governance framework has been in place at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority for the year ended 31 March 2008 and up to the date of approval of the Statement of Accounts."

· "We propose over the coming year to take steps to address the above matters to further enhance our governance arrangements.  We are satisfied that these steps will address the need for improvements that were identified in our review of effectiveness and will monitor their implementation and operation as part of our next annual review."

1.2

No other amendments have been made to the Statement.

2

RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the amended Annual Governance Statement attached as Appendix 1 to this report be formally approved for inclusion with the Statement of Accounts for 2007/08.

3

People Impact Assessment

3.1

The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Background Information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

The following documents disclose the 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 the report:

· Report on the Annual Governance Statement to the Governance Committee on

26 June 2008: /decisions/decisions-docs/080626-fgctte-R0619160924

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.