The Charter Trustees for the City of Durham met to discuss the Annual Governance Statement 23-24, the Revenue Outturn for the year ending 31 March 2024, and the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2024. Key decisions were made regarding the approval of these financial documents.

Annual Governance Statement 23-24

The Trustees reviewed and approved the Annual Governance Statement 23-24. This document outlines the council's governance framework and its effectiveness over the past year. The statement highlighted the council's commitment to transparency and accountability. One trustee noted, The governance framework is robust and ensures that our operations are conducted in a transparent manner, emphasising the importance of maintaining high standards.

Revenue Outturn for the Year Ending 31 March 2024

The Revenue Outturn for the year ending 31 March 2024 was presented and approved. This report detailed the council's financial performance, showing a slight surplus due to prudent financial management. Discussions focused on the allocation of surplus funds, with some trustees advocating for reinvestment in community projects. One trustee argued, Reinvesting the surplus in local initiatives will yield long-term benefits for our community.

Annual Return for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees also approved the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2024. This document, which includes the financial statements and an external auditor's report, was scrutinised to ensure accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements. The external auditor's positive feedback was noted, with one trustee stating, The clean audit report is a testament to our diligent financial practices.

Public Participation

During the meeting, members of the public were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Concerns were raised about the allocation of funds for local infrastructure projects. The Trustees assured the public that their input would be considered in future budget planning.

For more details, you can refer to the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet for the meeting.