Local Code of Governance

13.1 The Council will carry out an ongoing review and monitoring of its governance arrangements and how these arrangements comply with the CIPFA / SOLACE framework document and this Local Code.

13.2 This review and monitoring will be co-ordinated by the Council’s Governance Group and will include references to:

• Management Assurance Statements
• Constitution Review arrangements
• Ethics arrangements
• Annual Assurance Report
• Performance Management arrangements
• Risk Management arrangements
• External Auditors’ Reports

13.3 The results of this process will be incorporated into an Annual Governance Statement (AGS), the preparation and publication of which is necessary to meet the statutory requirement of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (England) 2015.

13.4 The purpose of the AGS is to provide an assurance that Governance arrangements are adequate and operating effectively. Where the review has revealed gaps, action is planned that will ensure effective governance in future.

13.5 The AGS will be considered by the Governance Group and the Executive Board before being presented to the Audit Committee.

13.6 Once approved, the AGS will be signed by the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive and will be published with the Annual Statement of Accounts, prior to being reviewed by the Council’s External Auditors.

13.7 The Local Code of Governance will be reviewed biannually and is subject to amendment if a weakness has been discovered or it is not up to date with present guidance and legislation. A record will be made in the policy under the version history to indicate it has been reviewed, where an amendment is not required. This record will state the date and officer responsible for the review.

13.8 Amendments will be reviewed by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for approval.

13.8 If no amendments have been made and only a record of review is noted, it will not require SLT approval.