Issue - meetings

The Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance introduced the report, stating that progress had been made on all actions identified for improvement within the Annual Governance Statement (AGS). This included reviewing the Council’s Policy Advisory and Overview and Scrutiny Committee arrangements and the provision of Member training on various topics. The changes to the Corporate Code of Governance were highlighted as tracked changes within the document at appendix B to the report.

There was concern expressed on how the three Ps of People, Planet and Profit, as part of triple bottom line accounting, would be presented to Members, and how these would be evaluated against financial considerations.

In response the Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance stated that:

·  The Council had to comply with the ‘best value’ duty, and therefore took into account multiple considerations in making decisions, not just financial, such as equalities, sustainability and biodiversity. The reports presented to Members contained this information within a sign-off section, to supporting Members in weighing the options available in making a decision;

·  Decisions are made in line with the Council’s priorities and budget, such as the 1000 Affordable Homes Programme;

·  Triple bottom line accounting was under development after having been agreed by the Committee in July 2023 as part of the AGS and would ensure that all of the relevant information was provided to decision-makers. Once produced, the framework would be presented to the Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee before a decision was made by the Cabinet.

It was hoped that the framework would be in place for the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

The Head of Finance further emphasised that triple bottom line accounting aimed to make reports more transparent. The example of social value in procurement was given, as once the value was defined, its consideration as part of decision-making would be more transparently represented. 

The Committee expressed support for triple bottom line accounting in considering the possible impacts of a decision. A briefing was therefore requested on usage and evaluation of triple bottom line accounting ahead of a future meeting.  

RESOLVED: That

1.  The update on progress with the current Annual Governance Statement Action Plan, at appendix A to the report, be noted; and

2.  The updated Local Code of Corporate Governance, at appendix B to the report, be approved.

Note: Councillor Knatchbull left the meeting at 7.11 p.m.