To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2024.

The Monitoring Officer provided a verbal update of the progress made on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for elected members. Following the previous meeting it was reported that one elected member had yet to complete the DBS check, the reason for the delay was due to personal circumstances. The Monitoring Officer reported that following discussions with the member concerned, she was confident that the check would be completed and undertook to provide an  update in due course. 

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2024 as a correct record.

The report of the City Treasurer is enclosed.

Consideration was given to the report of the City Treasurer providing the draft 2023/24 Annual Governance Statement (AGS). The AGS has been produced following completion of the annual review of the Council’s governance arrangements and systems of internal control. Local authorities have a legal responsibility to conduct, at least annually, a review of the effectiveness of their governance framework including their system of internal control. The report set out the process followed to produce the AGS 2023/24.

The Committee was requested to comment on the contents of the draft version of the Council’s 2023/24 Annual Governance Statement (AGS)

In welcoming the report, members of the Committee noted the streamlined format of the report and the language used to make the contents accessible for the reader. Officers were requested to circulate the AGS to all members of the Council. 

Decision

1.    To note the report and the draft 2023/24 Annual Governance Statement submitted.

2.    To note the comments made on the contents of the draft version of the Council’s 2023/24 Annual Governance Statement (AGS).

3.    To request that the final version of the Annual Governance Statement is circulated to all members of the Council for information.