Issue - meetings

Report number CEX396 by the Chief Executive.   (Enclosure)

DECISION:

(1)           To approve the local code of governance as appendix A to report number CEX396, subject to the title of the code and any references there to in the document shall be the “Local Code of Corporate Governance”;

(2)           To approve the content of the draft Annual Governance statement as attached at appendix B, subject to the definition of governance on page 2 being amended to read:

“Providing brilliant services by ensuring that the Council listens, learns and delivers so that it can demonstrate the best value for money in achieving the right outcomes for our customers giving special consideration to those who may be vulnerable or hard to reach.”

In his report number CEX396, the Chief Executive explained that under new Audit Regulations, he and the Leader were required to sign an annual governance statement which is then approved by the Governance & Audit Committee under delegated powers.  As part of these arrangements, local authorities are encouraged to prepare and maintain a local code of corporate governance; the Governance & Audit Committee had prepared such a code and had consulted the public on it via the Council’s website.  The annual statement had been circulated with the agenda in draft form as it had not been possible to present the full annual statement as this was dependent upon the accounts for 2007/08 being finalized and presented to the Governance & Audit Committee.

In commending the documents to the Council, the Chairman of the Governance & Audit Committee stated that the preparation of the Local Code of Corporate Governance had been a high priority of his committee and represented a significant milestone on the development of the Council’s corporate governance arrangements.

The draft code had been subject to public consultation the results of which were considered by his committee after the Council agenda had been dispatched.  Because of this timing, the committee wished to recommend two amendments to the code before formal approval is given.  The Chairman of the committee proposed an amendment to the title of the local code and the definition of governance contained in the annual governance statement.  This was seconded and subsequently carried following a vote.