Council response to Grant Thornton Public Interest Report

Notice under section 10(1)(b) of Schedule 7 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

In accordance with section 10(1)(b) of Schedule 7 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, below is the summary of decisions made by Woking Borough Council (“the Council”) in response to the report in the public interest on the Council’s governance arrangements over investment decisions (“the Report”).

The decisions were made at the meeting of Full Council on 20 November and have been approved by Grant Thornton as the Council’s auditor.

The decisions are as follows: 

1. The Council has accepted all of the recommendations set out in the Report in full.
2. The Council will review and update the Improvement and Recovery Plan, as necessary, to take into account findings and recommendations from the Report.
3. The Commissioners appointed by the Government for the Council will consider taking forward any further enquiries arising from the Report.
4. The Council has issued an apology to residents for the failing of the past. 

Separately, prior to the meeting, Richard Carr, the Council’s Chief Executive contacted Surrey Police to make clear that should any evidence emerge of criminality or misfeasance in public office, that this will be forwarded to them for investigations.