Agenda item

Report of the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer)

The Audit and Procurement Committee considered a report of the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer), that provided details of the results of the annual review of effectiveness of the Council’s governance arrangements and sought approval for the Annual Governance Statement, attached as an appendix to the report, which formed part of the Statement of Accounts for 2024-25.

Coventry City Council was responsible for ensuring that its business was conducted in accordance with the law and proper standards, and that public money was safeguarded and properly accounted for, and used economically, efficiently and effectively. In discharging this responsibility, the City Council was responsible for putting in place proper arrangements for the governance of its affairs and facilitating the effective exercise of its functions, including arrangements for the management of risk. To demonstrate such arrangements, the City Council had adopted a Local Code of Corporate Governance, which was consistent with the principles reflected in the CIPFA / SOLACE framework and guidance ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’ (2016).

The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) explained how Coventry City Council had complied with the Code and in doing so, reflected the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which required all relevant bodies to conduct a review of the effectiveness of its system of governance and prepare an Annual Governance Statement. The AGS also detailed key governance / control issues that the Council faced in the coming year.

For 2024-25, the Council was required to publish its unaudited Statement of Accounts by 30th June 2025.  The AGS formed part of the Statement and consequently was required to be approved at this time to support the Council in meeting this deadline.

Whilst processes were in place to monitor key elements of the governance framework through-out the year, for example through the work of Internal Audit, the Corporate Governance Steering Board and the Council’s Audit and Procurement Committee, an annual review was also undertaken as part of the production of the AGS for the year. The purpose of the review was to provide assurance that the arrangements set out in the Local Code of Corporate Governance continued to be fit for purpose and identified key governance issues for the forthcoming year. The annual review considered information from a number of sources with the outcomes reviewed and agreed by the Corporate Governance Steering Board and Leadership Team. Details of the matters for 2024-25 were set out in the report.

Based on the outcomes of the review, the overall opinion that had been reached was that reasonable assurance could be provided that the Council’s governance arrangements continued to be regarded as fit for purpose in accordance with the governance framework. The basis of this opinion, including the key findings from the review, were also set out in the report.

The AGS also set out the key governance issues that the Council faced in the coming year. Section 5.2 of the Statement provided details of these areas. The Key issues and the outcomes, detailed in the report, came from processes: to review of progress against the actions planned to address significant issues highlighted in the Annual Governance Statement for 2023-24; and new issues identified as part of the review of effectiveness.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Procurement Committee:

1)  In considering the findings of the review of effectiveness of the Council’s governance arrangements, confirms its satisfaction with the level of assurance provided that arrangements are fit for purpose. 

2)  In considering the Annual Governance Statement, attached as Appendix One to the report, approves the Statement which will accompany the 2024-25 Statement of Accounts.