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(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.