Archived decisions

Sir George Staunton Country Park Joint Management Committee

20 July 2009 Item 9

Annual Governance Statement

Report of the Treasurer

Contact: Mike Walls Tel: 01962 847102; email: [email protected]

1 Introduction

1.1 The Committee is aware that the Audit Commission has required the Park to submit an annual return summarising its financial activities. Part of the return includes an Annual Governance Statement which assures the Audit Commission that the financial affairs of the Park are conducted properly.

1.2 The Annual Governance Statement for the 2008/09 financial year is attached at Appendix A.

1.3 Appendix B contains some explanatory notes to show how the Park complies with the requirements of the Governance statement.

1.4 The Committee is requested to approve the statements, so that they can be signed off and returned to the Audit Commission.

RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. The Annual Governance Statement for 2008/09 is approved and signed off.

    Appendix A

SIR GEORGE STAUNTON COUNTRY PARK

Annual Governance Statement

    1. The accounts are prepared in the same way as all Hampshire County Council (HCC) accounts in accordance with the Code of Practice. HCC has been rated as "excellent" by the Audit Commission.

    2. The HCC financial systems and procedures ensure segregation of duties, financial limits of responsibility. This, together with the regularity audits, facilitates the prevention of fraud as well as its detection.

    3. The officers are kept informed of changes in the law and regulations (through a variety of groups and forums) which could have an effect on the running of the Park or its finances. The Park has not acted outside its legal powers.

    4. A "Notice of Appointment of Date for the Exercise of Electors' Rights" is displayed in the Park shop in July each year, inviting anyone to arrange a time to inspect the accounts between specific dates (usually 20 working days).

    5. The Park management team discuss and assess all risks at their regular meetings, and decide upon a course of action. The Park is covered by HCC's self-insurance scheme. The Park also benefits from regular advice visits and inspections by the Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs (CCRA) Health & Safety team. Financial risk is covered by the CCRA Devolved Finance Unit (DFU) and by the HCC Audit Sections regularity audits (every two years) and systems audits.

    6. The Park's finances are conducted by the Park staff. The CCRA DFU continually oversee the financial systems and procedures and ensure that the Financial Rules and Regulations are in place and adhered to. The Park is on the List of CCRA Healthcheck sites. In addition, the HCC Audit Section conduct regularity audits every two years, and systems audits every three to five years.

    7. The Park staff have responded to all matters brought to its attention via internal and external audits.

    8. The annual financial accounts take into account everything relating to each financial year regardless of when the activity took place.