To report progress made towards implementing the agreed action plan in response to issues identified in the 2017/18 annual governance statement in order that the committee may gain assurance that risks are being appropriately mitigated.

The head of corporate governance presented the report.

The following points were highlighted. 

·         The action plan attached at appendix 1 to the papers had been approved at the audit and governance meeting held in July 2018.

·         There was progress for all actions and tracked changes were on the action plan which showed where there were any revised dates. 

·         A draft annual governance statement will be presented to the March committee meeting.

·         A close down of the 2018/19 action plan would be included within the annual governance statement report due to be discussed at the July 2019 committee meeting.

Councillor EPJ Harvey left the meeting at 16:32.

Following a query from a committee member, the chief finance officer outlined the improvements on capital reporting following the Blue School House recommendations: 

·         There was improved ledger reporting

·         Managers can only commit spend if there is a budget.

·         The budget is now compared over the life of the project.

·         Capital reports which are presented to cabinet and council have greater levels of detail.

·         For the larger capital programmes, the projects which make up the programme will be shown. 

·         The reporting template are now the same in order to ensure consistency.

With regard to the public question which had been re-directed from audit and governance to cabinet, the chief finance officer confirmed that the answer would be provided at the next Cabinet meeting. 

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.