Decision details

(i)             to note the External Audit recommendations concerning the Governance Reference Group and consultation with elected members;

(ii)           to note that an elected member Chair had led the Governance Reference Group through a number of successful reviews of the Scheme of Governance over the years, some of which had been unanimously agreed when recommendations were made to Council; and agree to continue with an Elected Member as Chair of the Governance Reference Group;

(iii)          to approve, with effect from 1 April 2026, the “Delegated Powers and Political Sensitivity - Guidance for Officers” as appended to the report, to support officers in their operation of the Powers Delegated to Officers within the Scheme of Governance; and instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to review the Guidance in parallel with any future reviews of the Scheme of Governance which take place after the 2027 Council Election; and

(iv)          to note that the Chief Officer - Governance would provide an update to Councillor Nicoll regarding the other External Audit recommendations from 2024/25.