Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

The attached Local Code of Governance 2017/18 sets out the proposed new governance framework to be implemented from April 2017.  This links into the production of the Annual Governance Statement that the Council must prepare and report each year.

The Code follows guidance produced by Cipfa “Delivering Good Governance – The New Framework” – 2016 which makes it clear that the links between governance and public financial management are crucially important.

The Executive is requested to approve and adopt the revised Local Code of Governance.

Officer contact: John Pearsall, 0161 474 4033, john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the Local Code of Governance for 2017/18 that had been produced in line with guidance from CIPFA on best practice to ensure ‘good governance’.

RESOLVED – That the revised Local Code of Governance for 2017/18 be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The attached Local Code of Governance 2017/18 sets out the proposed new governance framework to be implemented from April 2017.  This links into the production of the Annual Governance Statement that the Council must prepare and report each year.

The Code follows guidance produced by Cipfa “Delivering Good Governance – The New Framework” – 2016 which makes it clear that the links between governance and public financial management are crucially important.

In particular, the guidance highlights the increasing focus on sustainability. The guidance provides that the outcomes of Council activity should be defined (and therefore monitored) in terms of social, economic and environmental benefit.

To achieve good governance, the Council must be able to demonstrate that it has governance structures in place that comply with the updated seven (previously six) core and sub principles contained in this Framework.  The Council has therefore developed and will maintain a local code of governance/governance arrangements reflecting the new principles set out.  Whatever form of arrangement is in place, the Council will need to test their governance structures and partnerships against the Framework’s principles.

The Council will be required to prepare a governance statement in order to report publicly on the extent to which they comply with their own code of governance on an annual basis, including how they have monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of their governance arrangements in the year, and on any planned changes in the coming period. The process of preparing the governance statement should itself add value to the effectiveness of the governance and internal control framework.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed new governance framework to be implemented from April 2017.

The Monitoring Officer submitted the Draft Local Code of Governance 2017/18 (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed new governance framework to be implemented from April 2017.

The Code followed guidance produced by Cipfa “Delivering Good Governance – The New Framework” – 2016 which made it clear that the links between governance and public financial management are crucially important.

In particular, the guidance highlighted the increasing focus on sustainability. The guidance provided that the outcomes of Council activity should be defined (and therefore monitored) in terms of social, economic and environmental benefit.

To achieve good governance, the Council should be able to demonstrate that it had governance structures in place that comply with the updated seven (previously six) core and sub principles contained in this Framework.  The Council had therefore developed and would maintain a local code of governance/governance arrangements reflecting the new principles set out.  Whatever form of arrangement was in place, the Council would need to test the governance structures and partnerships against the Framework’s principles.

The Council was required to prepare a governance statement in order to report publicly on the extent to which they comply with their own code of governance on an annual basis, including how they had monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of its governance arrangements in the year, and on any planned changes in the coming period. The process of preparing the governance statement should itself add value to the effectiveness of the governance and internal control framework.

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Draft Local Code of Governance 2017/18 be noted.