Agenda item

Joint Report of the Treasurer to the Joint Committee and Corporate Director: Resources / Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services.

The Head of Finance - Financial Services referred Members to the report within the agenda papers setting out the 2012/13 Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for Durham Crematorium, to form part of the Statement of Accounts and Small Bodies Return for the Joint Committee (for copy see file of minutes).  It was added that the information within the AGS included:

·        Scope of responsibility of the Joint Committee.

·        The purpose of the Governance Framework and the Framework itself, including setting out the processes of internal control and financial management by which the Joint Committee directs and controls its functions.

·        Review of effectiveness, details of the review of the Governance Framework, informed by the work of Internal Audit, Superintendent and Registrar, External Auditors and other review Agencies and Inspectorates.

The Joint Committee were asked to note that substantial assurance had been provided by the Internal Audit Manager as part of the annual audit, and that this and the reports and the governance reports throughout the year could be relied on as providing good assurance.  It was added that the Annual Governance Statement, subsequent to agreement Members would be signed on behalf of the Joint Committee by the Chair and the Treasurer to the Joint Committee, Don McLure.

Resolved:

That the Members of the Joint Committee approve the Annual Governance Statement 2012/13 for consideration within the Statement of Accounts and Annual Return.