Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 13

24 June 2008

Annual Governance Statement 2008/09

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: David Howells, Director of Corporate Services Tel: 02380 646833

1

Summary

1.1

The Annual Governance Statement summaries the Authority's corporate governance arrangements. It is produced to satisfy accounting and audit regulations and has been prepared using guidance issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The draft Statement is attached as Appendix 1.

1.2

After consideration and approval by members of the Authority, the Statement must be signed by the Chairman of the Authority and the Chief Officer. It forms part of the annual Statement of Accounts (which is also on the agenda of this meeting of the Authority)

2

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2.1

That the Authority approves the Annual Governance Statement 2008/09 (set out as Appendix 1 to this report) for inclusion in the Annual Statement of Accounts for 2008/09.

3

Resource implications

3.1

Other than the additional time spent by the officers and members in preparing the Statement, there are no significant additional resources arising from the recommendation.

4

Risk analysis

4.1

The process of producing the Statement involves reviewing the effectiveness of a wide range of controls and measures that are indicators of the effectiveness of the Authority's framework for good corporate governance. This process therefore contributes to the Authority's risk management regime.

4.2

Failure to provide the Statement would undoubtedly lead to a qualified opinion by our external auditors with inevitable damage to the Authority's reputation.

5

People impact assessment

5.1

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 - Local Government Act 1972]

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.

_ The CIPFA Finance Advisory Network: Annual Governance Statement - Rough Guide for Practitioners

_ Self-assessment matrix for reviewing corporate governance arrangements - taken to the Authority's Governance Committee on 28 June 2008. See: /decisions/decisions-docs/080626-fgctte-R0619160937

This list excludes:

1. any other published works.

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