The Head of Finance and Resources presented an updated version of the Local Code of Corporate Governance for review by the Committee prior to it being considered by the Cabinet.

The Head of Finance and Resources advised the Committee that following the recent review of the Council’s senior management structure, responsibility for corporate governance as a service had transferred to the Head of Policy and Communications who would be taking a fresh look at how the document was presented in future.

In response to questions by Members, the Officers explained that:

·  The Local Code of Corporate Governance and the Annual Governance Statement were separate documents.  The Local Code of Corporate Governance defined how the principles of good corporate governance would be applied and the Annual Governance Statement assessed how well the Council was complying with its Local Code and identified where improvements would be made to the effectiveness of the corporate governance framework.

·  Very few amendments had been made to the Code pending the review to be undertaken by the Head of Policy and Communications, but these could be annotated to assist the Cabinet in its consideration of the document.

·  It was the Council’s policy to hold meetings in public, but if it was proposed to hold a meeting or part of a meeting in private, then the reasons for excluding the public would be specified in the report and on the agenda.

·  More detailed information relating to the Council’s arrangements for consulting and engaging with local people and other stakeholders would be included in the document in future.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the updated version of the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved for submission to the Cabinet;

(b)  That the Officers be requested to ensure that the amendments made to the Code are annotated to assist the Cabinet in its consideration of the document; and

(c)  That the Officers be requested to include more detailed information relating to the Council’s arrangements for consulting and engaging with local people and other stakeholders in the document in future.