Agenda item

Consider the draft Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 by the Chief Executive for inclusion in Scottish Borders Council’s Statement of Accounts 2019/20. (Copy attached).

6.1       With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of 13 May 2019, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Executive presenting for approval the Annual Governance Statement that would be published in the Council’s Statement of Accounts 2019/20.  The Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 at Appendix 1, in compliance with the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’ (2016), provided details of the Council’s Governance Framework, the annual Review of Framework undertaken, Improvement Areas of Governance, and overall opinion.  In terms of overall corporate governance it was the Chief Executive’s opinion that, although there were a few areas of work to be completed for full compliance with the Local Code, the overall governance arrangements of the Council were considered sound.  The Executive Director Finance and Regulatory presented the report and summarised the Council’s governance arrangements as these related to the seven core principles of good governance set out in the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework.  He also highlighted the main areas where improvement in governance arrangements could be made, in particular with respect to implementing the Best Value Action Plan approved by Council in December 2019.  With reference to the statement on the Community Planning Partnership the Chairman commented that although assurance was given of a joined-up nature between the Locality Plans, Improvement Plan and Community Partnership Plan, this should be a priority for attention in the year ahead to strengthen the linkage between the plans and improve partnership outcomes.

6.2       The Executive Director emphasised that the assurance opinion reflected the assessment of governance in place during normal operations in 2019/20 prior to the significant coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in late March 2020.  The latter clearly had an impact on business as usual in the delivery of services.  The Council moved to Critical Service delivery on the evening of Monday 23 March 2020 following the announcements by the First Minister and Prime Minister on new coronavirus restrictions.  This meant that as a Category 1 responder the Council’s primary responsibilities were working with other resilience partners to protect life, especially the vulnerable, and to support businesses and the wider public; as such local authority workers were part of the essential response during the COVID-19 outbreak.  In response to a question about openness and transparency in relation to reports approved using Emergency Powers, on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Clerk to the Council confirmed that these reports would be published on the Council’s website.

DECISION

            AGREED to:-

(a)       note the details of the Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report and that it reflected the risk environment and governance in place to achieve objectives;

(b)       acknowledge the actions identified by Management to improve internal controls and governance arrangements; and

(b)       give approval for publication of the Annual Governance Statement in the Council’s Statement of Accounts 2019/20.

          ADJOURNEMENT

         The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 am and re-convened at 11:50 am.

MEMBER

Councillor H. Scott left the meeting during the presentation and discussion below.