Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

Decision Maker

Audit Committee

Date of Decision

25 June 2009

Decision Title

Draft Annual Governance Statement

Decision Reference

767

Report From:

The Monitoring Officer and The County Treasurer

Contact name

Barbara Beardwell

Tel

01962-845157

Email

[email protected]

Contact name

Paul Carey-Kent

Tel

01962-847525

Email

[email protected]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

    The Appendix to this report contains the draft Annual Governance Statement which, pursuant to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 as amended, must be approved by the Audit Committee before the end of June 2009 and subsequently signed by the Leader of the County Council and the Chief Executive.

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information

    1.1. The County Council is required under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (as amended in 2006) to produce a broad based Annual Governance Statement. The Annual Governance Statement has replaced the Statement of Internal Control. The draft Annual Governance Statement contained in the Appendix is the second such statement that has been produced on behalf of the County Council.

    1.2. Once approved by Audit Committee the Annual Governance Statement must be "signed off" on behalf of the County Council by the Leader of the County Council and the Chief Executive.

    1.3. The Annual Governance Statement is an important and integral part of the County Council's Corporate Governance regime, and the Comprehensive Performance Assessment Framework.

    1.4. The Annual Governance Statement provides a review of the effectiveness of the County Council's internal control systems, and gives assurances about how effectively they operate.

    1.5. Guidance supplied by the Finance Advisory Network of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has been considered in the preparation of the draft Annual Governance Statement.

2) Methodology

    2.1. In July 2008 Departmental Corporate Governance Questionnaires were sent out to all Chief Officers seeking assurances about the operation Corporate Governance in their Departments.

    2.2. In September 2008 Corporate Governance Questionnaires were sent to Officers fulfilling significant corporate roles on behalf of the County Council seeking assurance about corporate Governance in the County Council.

    2.3. In February 2009 Officers performing key corporate roles on behalf of the County Council were asked to produce an appropriate position statement based on the CIPFA Finance Advisory Network Guidance.

    2.4. A copy the emerging Annual Governance Statement has been sent to all Chief Officers, officers undertaking key corporate roles on behalf of the County Council, and members of the Governance Committee for comment. The comments received have been taken into account in preparing the draft Annual Governance Statement included in the Appendix to this report.

3) Draft Annual Governance Statement

    The content of the draft Annual Governance Statement follows the CIPFA Finance Advisory Network Guidance. Members of the Committee are asked to approve the draft.

4) Outline of Options

    4.1. Option 1

        Approve the Annual Governance Statement

    4.2. Option 2

        Reject the Annual Governance Statement

5) Recommendations

    It is recommended that the Audit Committee approves the draft Annual Governance Statement for signature by the Leader of the County Council and the Chief Executive, subject to any amendments the Committee may wish to make.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

LINKS TO THE CORPORATE STRATEGY

Yes

No

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

x

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Maximising well-being

x

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Enhancing our quality of place

x

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

OR

This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because:

OTHER SIGNIFICANT LINKS:

Links to Previous member decisions:

Title

Ref

Date

     
     
     

Direct Links to Specific Legislation or Government Directives

Title

Date

Accounts and Audit Regulations

2003

Accounts and Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations

2006

   

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

 

    The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

 

    Document

    Location

    Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Finance Advisory Network Rough Guide to the Annual Governance Statement

  

    Chief Officer Corporate Governance Questionnaires

  

    Key Corporate Officer Governance Questionnaires

  
   

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

    a) Not applicable

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

    a) Not applicable.

3. Climate Change:

    a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

        · Not applicable

    b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

        · Not applicable