Agenda item

The Head of Finance, HR and Business Support, Neighbourhood Services presented this report which provided details of the Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for the year 2010/2011 (for copy see file of minutes).  The AGS needed to be formally approved by Members as part of the consideration of the Statement of Accounts and Small Bodies in England Annual Return 2010/2011.  Copies of the AGS had been previously circulated. This drew on evidence from the Internal Audit report, external assessments etc; plus the reports and business of the Joint Committee during the year.

The Crematorium Joint Committee had adopted and operated under a code of corporate governance which was consistent with the principles of the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’ and the AGS explained how the Joint Committee complied with the code and met the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendments)­_(England) Regulations 2006 in relation to the publication of a statement on internal control.  The Annual Governance Statement included a review of the governance arrangements in place during the year and identified that there were no significant governance issues/weaknesses to correct with improvements implemented during the year being reflected in the statement.

Resolved: That the Annual Governance Statement be approved and signed by the Chair.