Issue - meetings

Report of the Financial Planning Manager

The Interim Director of Resources presented the report.  He informed Members that the External Auditors had reviewed the Annual Governance Statement and had confirmed that it complied with the CIPFA/SOLACE framework and that it was not misleading or inconsistent with any other information they were aware of from their audit of the financial statements.

Councillor S Sheahan referred to the recommendation to review the equality policy and asked when the current policy had been written.  The interim Director of Resources reported that the policy was last reviewed in 2011 and it would be reviewed again in the coming months.

Regarding the training for Audit and Governance Committee Members, Councillor F R D Fenning felt that it was important to ask Members what they would like to be trained on.  He understood that Members did not need to be trained as accountants but he would personally like to understand more about how the council operates in certain areas such as Housing.  The Interim Director of Resources responded that he was happy to listen to any training needs from Members.  He agreed that Members did not need to become trained accountants as they brought a unique outside perspective on the accounts.  He also felt that the briefing Members attended regarding the statement of accounts was useful and similar sessions should be available in the future.

Councillor S Sheahan welcomed the commitment to assess risks on a regular basis.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The Annual Governance Statement 2016/17 be approved.