Issue - meetings

1.       That the 2014/15 Annual Governance Statement, attached as Annex A to the submitted report, be approved and signed by the  Leader and the Chief Executive for inclusion in the Statement of Accounts and Annual Report.

2.       That the Audit and Governance Committee continue to monitor the governance environment and report to Cabinet as appropriate.

Reasons for Decisions:

There is a statutory duty to annually review and report on governance.  The identification of issues in governance and a responsive approach to addressing those issues is viewed as best practice.

[The decision on this item can be called in by the Council Overview Board]

The Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience said that Surrey County Council had a statutory duty under the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011 to publish an Annual Governance Statement (AGS).  The AGS provided a comprehensive assessment of the Council’s governance arrangements and once signed by the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, the AGS would be incorporated into the Statement of Accounts and the Annual Report.

The annual review of governance was overseen by the Governance Panel which met four times a year and reported to the Statutory Responsibilities Network and the Audit & Governance Committee. She said that the Corporate Strategy, Confident in Surrey’s Future provided clear direction for staff as well as a signpost for residents, businesses and partner organisations, which was underpinned by the Medium Term Financial Plan, the Investment Strategy and Service Plans.

She highlighted aspects of Leadership and behaviours within the Council and also the staff and Members’ Code of Conduct, which set out the expected high standards of conduct. She also drew attention to the Annual Report produced by the Council which demonstrated the delivery of priorities over the year and included the AGS and summary audited accounts.

She mentioned the Council’s risk management strategy which was renewed annually and also the Leadership Risk Register – also regularly reviewed by the Statutory Responsibilities Network, the Audit & Governance Committee and Cabinet.

On the People Strategy, she said that it set out the Council’s aims and objectives in relation to employees and the wider workforce, including volunteers, charities and members of the public who help the Council to help residents.

On engagement and collaboration, she highlighted the creation of two new companies in 2014/15: (i) Surrey Choices Ltd for delivery of Adult Social Care day services and (ii) a Property Company. She also made reference to examples of ‘working together’ namely, the Surrey County Council and East Sussex County Council business and support services partnership known as Orbis and also the Surrey County Council and Buckinghamshire County Council joint trading standards service.

Finally, she drew attention to the areas where governance arrangements needed to be enhanced in 2015/16, namely the Children’s and Safeguarding Service and Contract Management and said that the focus for 2015/16 would include these and also the implementation of new duties incorporated in the Care Act and working with partners on the Better Care Plan.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the 2014/15 Annual Governance Statement, attached as Annex A to the submitted report, be approved and signed by the  Leader and the Chief Executive for inclusion in the Statement of Accounts and Annual Report.

2.       That the Audit and Governance Committee continue to monitor the governance environment and report to Cabinet as appropriate.

Reasons for Decisions:

There is a statutory duty to annually review and report on governance.  The identification of issues in governance and a responsive approach to addressing those issues is viewed as best practice.