Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tom Hunt, Julia McShane, John Rigg and James Steel.

Councillors Angela Gunning and Paul Spooner were in remote attendance.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tom Hunt, Julia McShane, John Rigg and James Steel.

Councillors Angela Goodwin and Paul Spooner were in remote attendance.

In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must notparticipate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on [date].

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2022 were confirmed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2022 were confirmed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

The Leader thanked those council officers who had worked hard to support residents and businesses during the recent heatwave. It was noted that refuse workers had started work at 5am and no route had been missed. Praise was also directed to the Fire Service for its swift responses to numerous calls around the borough.

It was announced that the Council Tax Discretionary Energy Rebate had been extended to include properties in bands E, F, G or H. The Council would proactively be contacting eligible residents with information, but residents were advised to check criteria requirements on the Council’s website and, if eligible, apply before 12 August 2022.

The Safer Guildford Partnership had updated the Guildford town centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The order gave police and some council officers power to tackle anti-social behaviour . This included confiscating alcohol and legal highs and fines up to £1,000  might be imposed if warnings about anti-social behaviour were ignored.

Saturday 23 July was ‘County Flag Day’. Local resident Neil Thompson was thanked for suggesting the Council take part and the Surrey county flag would be flown at various locations.

The re-opening of the galleries at Guildford House was celebrated with two exhibitions. 'Georgian Women, Portraits by John Russell' was open from 16 July until 8 October 2022. Alongside this, 'Fifty Years of Friendship' showcased a selection of artwork acquired with support from 'The Friends of Guildford House'. This was open from 21 July until 8 October.

‘Videogames - Made in Guildford' was Guildford Museum's latest exhibition. The display was open between 2 July and 24 September and gave a snapshot into the thriving videogame sector in Guildford and the local area.

Guildford Castle was to reopen from 27^th July and it would be possible to climb to the top of the tower for views across the town until the end of October (Wednesday to Saturday).

There had been a memorial service at the Holy Trinity Church on 18^th July to remember former Mayor Councillor Richard Billington.

Resources Director and s151 officer, Claire Morris would be leaving the Council at the end of July and the Leader paid tribute to her work over the past nine years.

Finally, the Leader was able to confirm that Police had used new powers warded to them through s.60c of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 2022 to remove an illegal traveller encampment on Stoke Park.

The Leader thanked those council officers who had worked hard to support residents and businesses during the recent heatwave. It was noted that refuse workers had started work at 5am and no route had been missed. Praise was also directed to the Fire Service for its swift responses to numerous calls around the borough.

It was announced that the Council Tax Discretionary Energy Rebate had been extended to include properties in bands E, F, G or H. The Council would proactively be contacting eligible residents with information, but residents were advised to check criteria requirements on the Council’s website and, if eligible, apply before 12 August 2022.

The Safer Guildford Partnership had updated the Guildford town centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The order gave police and some council officers power to tackle anti-social behaviour . This included confiscating alcohol and legal highs and fines up to £1,000  might be imposed if warnings about anti-social behaviour were ignored.

Saturday 23 July was ‘County Flag Day’. Local resident Neil Thompson was thanked for suggesting the Council take part and the Surrey county flag would be flown at various locations.

The re-opening of the galleries at Guildford House was celebrated with two exhibitions. 'Georgian Women, Portraits by John Russell' was open from 16 July until 8 October 2022. Alongside this, 'Fifty Years of Friendship' showcased a selection of artwork acquired with support from 'The Friends of Guildford House'. This was open from 21 July until 8 October.

‘Videogames - Made in Guildford' was Guildford Museum's latest exhibition. The display was open between 2 July and 24 September and gave a snapshot into the thriving videogame sector in Guildford and the local area.

Guildford Castle was to reopen from 27^th July and it would be possible to climb to the top of the tower for views across the town until the end of October (Wednesday to Saturday).

There had been a memorial service at the Holy Trinity Church on 18^th July to remember former Mayor Councillor Richard Billington.

Resources Director and s151 officer, Claire Morris would be leaving the Council at the end of July and the Leader paid tribute to her work over the past nine years.

Finally, the Leader was able to confirm that Police had used new powers warded to them through s.60c of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 2022 to remove an illegal traveller encampment on Stoke Park.

The intention of the report was to collate and track progress of all recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Executive throughout the year, and to log the Executive decisions on the submitted matters. The Executive agreed the response to the recommendations on 22 March 2022.

The Executive noted the report and that there had been no updates since the previous meeting.

The intention of the report was to collate and track progress of all recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Executive throughout the year, and to log the Executive decisions on the submitted matters. The Executive agreed the response to the recommendations on 22 March 2022.

The Executive noted the report and that there had been no updates since the previous meeting.

Decision:

To recommendto the Corporate Governance & StandardsCommittee:

(1)   That the Committee adopts the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2021-22, as set out inAppendix 1 to this report, and publishes the Annual Governance Statement alongside  theadopted statement ofaccounts for2021-22.

(2)   That the Committee approves the self-assessment of the Council’s compliance with the CIPFA financial management code reported at Appendix 2.

Reasonfor Recommendation:

To comply with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council must prepare,approve, and publishan Annual Governance Statement.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 required the Council to prepare an AnnualGovernance Statement (AGS) detailing the governance framework and proceduresthat had operated at the Council during the year; a review of their effectiveness; anysignificant governance issues that had occurred and a statement of assurance. The draft AGS would be included in the Council’s statement of accounts for 2021-22

The Executive considered a report that outlined the background to the AGS; and set out in Appendix 1, the AGS for2021-22.  The Leader of the Council introduced the report and it was explained that actionto furtherdevelop the Council’sgovernance framework would be implemented where areas for further improvement had been identified.

The Executive was invited to comment on the AGS and make any recommendations, as appropriate, to the Corporate Governance & Standards Committee at its meeting on 28 July 2022.

RESOLVED

To recommend to the Corporate Governance & Standards Committee:

(1)  That the Committeeadopts the Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2021-22, as set out inAppendix 1 to this report, and publishes the Annual Governance Statement alongside  theadopted statement ofaccounts for2021-22.

(2)  That the Committee approves the self-assessment of the Council’s compliance with the CIPFA financial management code reported at Appendix 2.

Reason forRecommendation:

To comply with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council must prepare,approve, and publishan Annual Governance Statement.