Issue - meetings

Annual Governance Statement 2015-16 and Local Code of Corporate Governance

Meeting: 26/07/2016 - Policy and Resources Committee (Item 52)

52 Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Annual Governance Statement 2015-16 and Local Code of Corporate Governance pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Annual Governance Statement 2015-16 and the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved, subject to additional narrative being inserted into Appendix 1 of the report of the Head of Policy and Communications regarding the scrutiny function as carried out by the Service Committees, prior to signing by the Leader and Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Members considered the report of the Head of Policy and Communications which related to the Annual Governance Statement and Local Code of Conduct.

 

The Statement includes an update on the actions the Council took in 2015/16 as well as proposed actions for next year.

It was noted that these documents had been reviewed by Audit, Governance and Standards Committee prior to submission to this Committee and that they had made minor amendments which had been incorporated.

 

The Head of Policy and Communications advised that the Section relating to Scrutiny had proved challenging following the change to the Council’s governance arrangements in terms of what information should be included.  It was suggested that a paragraph be inserted in relation to  performance management and policy development.  The Service Committees would be able to hold Officers to account on the performance of their individual service areas.


 

In response to Members questions, the Head of Policy and Communications advised that:-

 

·  The Members Handbook would be circulated to all Members.

·  There have been various exercises carried out over the years to engage with the community on budget consultation etc, for instance 
a Budget Roadshow was held in 2014 where Members of the Cabinet went out to various locations such as Supermarkets etc to engage with members of the public to ask them to prioritise eight action areas.  Last year the Council undertook a Residents Survey which was carried out online and face to face, this had 1,800 responses.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Governance Statement 2015-16 and the Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved, subject to additional narrative being inserted into Appendix 1 of the report of the Head of Policy and Communications regarding the scrutiny function as carried out by the Service Committees, prior to signing by the Leader and Chief Executive.

Voting:  For:  9  Against:  5  Abstentions:  1