Agenda item

Report of the Head of Legal and Support Services

The Legal Team Leader – Governance, presented the report and referred to the additional papers circulated at the meeting.

In relation to a question on the award of grants delegation and the link to the Legacy Fund as part of the upcoming budget proposals, the Strategic Director of Resources explained that several grants would still require approval and therefore the minor change to the delegation was still required. The Legacy Fund would have its own approval process which was yet to be agreed.

The Chair spoke strongly against the proposed changes within the Audit and Governance Committee terms of reference in relation to the wording ‘those charged with governance’, due to concerns that it went against the CIPFA guidance on the language required. It was felt that further consideration was required on these proposals before being presented to Council. The Committee supported the approach.

The work of the Cross Party Working Group was noted and the members were thanked for the time taken on the review.

It was moved by Councillor P Moult, seconded by Councillor D Everitt and

RESOLVED THAT:

The amendment to the Audit and Governance Committee section of the constitution be reconsidered by officers prior to approval by Council due to the language change going against CIPFA guidance.

RECOMMENDED THAT:

1)    Council adopts the amendments to the constitution, subject to the removal of the ‘review of the Audit and Governance Committee’ section as detailed above, at its meeting on 19 February 2026.

2)         The changes come into effect from 1 March 2026, except for the amendments to the Appointments Committee to come into force in May 2026.