Issue - meetings

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

The Assistant Director of Finance presented the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26.

The Group was reminded that the Statement was a statutory document produced annually, usually accompanied by the Statement of Accounts, which this Group was asked to approve. The Assistant Director of Finance explained that it set out the Council’s governance arrangements, risk management and internal control systems and included factors such systems and processes, the Council’s culture, values, and how the Council ensured that its decision making arrangements were lawful and that it safeguarded public money and delivered services effectively and efficiently.

The Assistant Director of Finance advised that the overall conclusion was that the Council’s arrangements remained effective with no significant concerns for 2025/26 and noted that Internal Audit had provided some assurance of that position by the Council’s strong opinion on its risk management and controls, with no major weaknesses identified.

The Assistant Director of Finance said that the Council had maintained a stable governance environment, despite external pressures, including reduced funding and increasing demands and legislative changes. She said that the Council had a positive organisational culture which continually looked for improvements and efficiencies.

In relation to the future, the Assistant Director of Finance said that local government reform presented a major risk to the Council which would require careful management, including for resources and decision making. She clarified that there were no significant risks with the Council’s current arrangements.

It was RESOLVED that the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 (Appendix 1), which incorporates actions for the forthcoming year, was reviewed and approved.