From:                                             Better Governance Forum <cipfa@email.cipfa.org.uk>

Sent:                                               30 June 2020 16:52

To:                                                  Pitt, Joanne

Subject:                                         Governance News 30 June

 

 

 

Better Governance Forum
Newsletter

30 June 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Events

Our Webinars:

 

On the Agenda - free webinar

A briefing and discussion webinar covering the consultation from the LGA on the model code of conduct and the consultation from the NAO on auditor guidance note 3.

15 July

 

Councillors' Guide to Understanding your Council's Financial Reporting Requirements

7 July

 

8 September

 

BGF Home

News of the week

 

Scrutiny practice guide published for post-Covid-19 finances

 

The Centre for Public Scrutiny and CIPFA have released a new guide for local authorities in England to support effective financial scrutiny following the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Centre for Public Scrutiny

 

Read more >>


News Roundup

 

Audit

 

Local government in Scotland Overview 2020

The annual summary of the key challenges and performance issues faced by councils. It highlights urgent issues such as financial sustainability and health and social care integration.

Audit Scotland

 

Governance

 

National problem, local solutions: openness and accountability at risk

Dr Jane Martin, discusses the role of local government in the Coronavirus crisis.

Committee on Standards in Public Life

 

Understanding the value of selflessness in the Coronavirus crisis

Dame Shirley Pearce, discusses the value of selflessness and the demands made on public sector workers during the Coronavirus crisis.

Committee on Standards in Public Life

 

Guide for Audit and Risk Committees on Financial Reporting and Management during COVID-19

This guide aims to help audit and risk committee members discharge their responsibilities on financial reporting.

National Audit Office

 

Report highlights governance failings at borough council

The council suffered major failings in its governance with auditors having given ‘no assurance’ over two spending areas and criticised legal service procurement.

Local Government Lawyer

 

NALC renews calls for power to suspend councillors for up to six months

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has called on the Government to take “urgent action” to introduce a power for local authorities to suspend councillors for up to six months.

Local Government Lawyer

 

Risk

 

New district analysis reveals £704m Covid shortfall

Half of districts reported losses equivalent to between 16% and 32% of their expected sales, fees and charges income, but for some councils it was higher than 75%.

Local Government Chronicle

 

Report finds flawed reserve setting amid ‘uncertain future’

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has been warned it could be forced into a section 114 notice in a CIPFA report which found a flawed process for setting reserve levels.

Public Finance

 

Khan orders GLA bodies to find budget savings

London mayor Sadiq Khan has asked GLA Group members to consider recruitment freezes, spending cuts and the use of reserves as he seeks to deliver £500m of savings.

Public Finance

 

Counter Fraud

 

Raising Concerns: A Good Practice Guide for the Northern Ireland Public Sector

This guide is aimed at helping employees and public sector organisations to understand the value of an open and honest reporting culture.

Northern Ireland Audit Office

 

Fraud and irregularity update 2019/20

A summary of the cases of fraud and other irregularities at public bodies reported by external auditors for the financial year 2019/20.

Audit Scotland

 

 

CIPFA News and Training

 

CIPFA Coronavirus Resources

 

Responding to COVID-19: insight, support and guidance. Read more>>

 

 

 

Support for Audit Committees

 

CIPFA offers a range of services to support audit committees. Our web page brings together all our resources and services into one place.

For more information on in-house training or advisory support for your audit committee please contact Customer Services.

 

 

 

External Quality Assessments

 

CIPFA offers an EQA service to evaluate internal audit conformance to the PSIAS and Local Government Application Note. For more details see the website.

 

 

 

Publications

Better Governance Forum Advisors

Diana Melville
+44 (0)1722 349398
diana.Melville@cipfa.org

 

CIPFA | The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy

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