Issue - meetings

To receive and note the information

DECISION:

·        To accept and note the arrangements for submitting and approving GwE Statement of Accounts (subject to audit) for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

·        To accept and note the Audit Plan as presented by Audit Wales auditors.

·         

Note: Final Accounts to be approved by the Gwynedd Council Governance and Audit Committee October 2025.

The Governance Statement was presented by Euros Davies (GwE Head of Service - School Improvement). It was reported that the Accounts and Audit (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 set fixed requirements on public bodies that operated partnership management arrangements through formal Joint Committees. It was added that Section 5 of those Regulations required the Joint Committee to review and approve a Statement of Internal Control with the Annual Governance Statement provided to align with that requirement.

For the purposes of demonstrating good governance, it was explained that GwE must show compliance with the core principles in the 'Framework for Delivering Good Governance in Local Government (CIPFA/Solace, 2016)'. The statement had been prepared in accordance with those principles.

It was noted that the last year had been very different for the School Improvement Service in North Wales in light of national changes and the middle tier review. Therefore, the Statement elaborated on arrangements that had been operational for the 2024/2025 financial year in the context of the relevant changes and responsibilities.

It was reported that, following the assessment, no significant governance matters had been identified in 2024/25 and the opinion that the governance arrangements provided strong certainty that GwE governance arrangements were working well was noted.  

The GwE Head of Service - School Improvement, appreciated the good joint working that had existed with Cyngor Gwynedd's Finance Department and for their willing support to provide individual reports as required.

It was proposed and seconded to accept the Statement

         RESOLVED:

         To accept and approve the 2024/25 Annual Governance Statement.

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The Chair of this meeting, Cllr. Phil Wynn took the opportunity to thank everybody for attending the last meeting of the Joint Committee. Everyone was thanked for their commitment to the work over the past 18 months, acknowledging that this had been a challenging and uncertain period for many.

Other Members of the Joint Committee echoed the thanks, and everybody accepted that this period had been turbulent - they wished the best to all staff.

Euros Davies (GwE Head of Service - School Improvement) thanked all GwE staff for their resilience and professionalism throughout the difficult period. He thanked the Senior Team for their support and for their dedication to their work in supporting all schools in the region. He also thanked Cyngor Gwynedd support staff for their support over the last 13 years.