Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy regarding the Council’s draft Local Code of Corporate Governance.

It was noted that CIPFA (the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) and SOLACE (the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) had published an updated governance framework for local authorities entitled “Delivering Good Governance in Local Government”. The draft Local Code of Corporate Governance attached to the report had been developed in response to that publication.

Good governance was defined as “the way in which an organisation ensured that it was doing the right things, in the right way, for the right people, in a timely, inclusive, open, honest and accountable manner”. Whilst adoption of a local code of corporate governance was not a statutory requirement, it was considered to represent best practice. The purpose of the Code was to provide a public statement showing how the Council complied with the principles of good governance.

The Council’s governance arrangements had been assessed against the principles set out in the Framework document by the Corporate Governance Group whose membership was outlined within the report for the Board’s information. The review had informed the production of the draft Local Code of Corporate Governance.

Members were advised that the Standards Committee had also considered this report, looking at areas related to its remit, and were happy with the content.

In considering the draft Code, the following points were discussed/noted:

• further clarification was requested in relation to the constitution of the Older Persons’ Engagement Network;

• the Financial Services Department was congratulated on its actions in relation to avoiding potential difficulties, for example the Council had not been affected by the Icelandic Banks incident;

• the Internal Audit Section undertook the external assessment role in relation to the Financial Management Standard in schools for the schools that were under the Local Authority’s control. Schools not within the Council’s control would have to make their own arrangements in terms of arranging an external assessment; and

• the Executive Board had set up a small group to look at the impact of the current financial situation on the Council, examining issues such as the collection of Council Tax. It was noted that a fine balance had to be struck between collecting outstanding debts and assisting those in need of benefits and welfare.

RESOLVED: That the Council be recommended to agree that the draft Local Code of Corporate Governance be adopted and included in the Council’s Constitution.