Agenda item - Annual Governance Statement 2012/13 - Action Plan Progress Update

Report of the Executive Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached).

66.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Finance & Resources in relation to the Annual Governance Statement 2012/13 – Action Plan Progress Update. The action plan included suggested improvements to the Council’s governance framework, and the report provided an update on the progress of the implemented actions.

66.2         In response to Dr Horne the Executive Director of Finance & Resources explained that the Committee had not usually received an interim report; however, it was important that the Committee be able to feed into this, and consideration would be given to the most appropriate way to do this for the next meeting.

66.3         The Executive Director of Finance & Resources responded to questions from Councillor Summers explaining that work was being undertaken to look at internal communications and the staff intranet with a view to making this easier to navigate and information more accessible. Work was ongoing in relation to the Code of Connections and some new ways of working were due to be tested by agreed Members. A different approach had been taken this year in relation to budget scrutiny which had enabled it to be more streamlined; however, time constraints meant that it was not possible to report budget proposals to the relevant policy committee before consideration at the Budget Policy & Resources Committee and Budget Council

66.4         RESOLVED: That the Committee note the report.