BOROUGH OF POOLE

REPORT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE

8 APRIL 2010

LOCAL CODE OF GOVERNANCE – ANNUAL REVIEW

PART OF PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN: NO

STATUS – GENERAL

1.PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT

1.1The Council is statutorily required to produce an ‘Annual Governance Statement’. It is best practice that a Local Code of Governance is produced and regularly reviewed to demonstrate compliance with the principles of good governance, and as a key component in the annual review of governance arrangements.

1.2The Code pulls together current policies, procedures and practices to demonstrate how the Borough governance framework operates. It does not contain any ‘new’ information or policies but instead, draws together information on the governance framework so as to be an open and honest statement of the governance arrangements.

1.3The Code sets out the governance arrangements against each of the six Core Principles of good governance as articulated in the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’.

1.4The Council’s ‘Local Code of Governance’ first approved by Audit Committee on 18th December 2008. Therefore, this is the first annual review of the Local Code.

2.DECISIONS REQUIRED

2.1Members are asked to approve the updated Local Code of Governance.

3.ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE LOCAL CODE OF GOVERNANCE

3.1The review of the Code was undertaken following consultation with a number of officers, including:

  • Chief Executive
  • Head of Financial Services
  • Head of Legal and Democratic Services
  • Head of Personnel and Training
  • Corporate Performance Manager
  • Head of Customer Services and Communications
  • Business Transformation Manager

3.2As a result, there have been a number of minor updates and amendments to the Code, to more accurately reflect the Council’s governance arrangements and any changes made through the year. These include:

  • Inclusion of the Sustainable Community Strategy;
  • Update the reference to the Fairness for All policy;
  • Update to Standards Committee information following the changes from 2008/09;
  • Inclusion of reference to programme and project governance processes;
  • Update to the progress in risk management;
  • Inclusion of reference to ‘Business Brief’ and website information;
  • Updates on partnership governance and performance management.

3.3There have also been some minor changes to format etc.

3.4An updated version will then be placed on the Loop.

4.CONCLUSION

4.1The review of the Local Code of Governance is part of the Annual Governance Statement process and helps to ensure that the Council can demonstrate compliance with the principles of good governance.

Liz Wilkinson

Head of Financial Services

Appendices:

Appendix ALocal Code of Governance (Revised)

Background Papers:

Name and Telephone Number of Officer to Contact:

Ruth Hodges633205

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