To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Community Strategy.

The Corporate Director, Governance and Community Strategy, was in attendance to brief the Committee on the key points of the Council’s Corporate Governance Code, which sets out the key systems, policies and procedures that comprise the Authority’s governance framework, to be adhered to by both officers and elected Members.

The Code is consistent with the principles of the CIPFA/SOLACE Framework ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’ issued in 2016/17; is reviewed and updated regularly as required, and approved by the Corporate Leadership Team and Accounts and Audit Committee, to reflect any changes in governance arrangements.

This report before the Committee set out the proposed updated Code, reviewed by Corporate Leadership Team and updated to take account of developments in 2018/19. It set out the seven key governance principles underpinning the Council’s operations, and the detailed activities, procedures and structures which supported them.

An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. These concentrated on the review timescale for the Code, the nature of changes made and mechanisms to secure staff engagement.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That the content of the current draft Annual Corporate Governance Code be noted.

(2)       That it be noted that the final version of the Code will be presented for approval by this Committee in July 2019.